Thread: Interrupted Sleep and WBTB

The reality is much more complex.

First, it's important to analyze the link you just provided: it lacks several citations on key claims, and the main claim it makes (right on the first paragraph) comes from a source of a website, which mentions a study performed more than 20 years ago. While this doesn't mean the study isn't valid, we would first need to check the the details before determining whether this sleep is harmful or beneficial to you. At the same time, historical accounts of this byphasic sleep don't necessarily mean it's the best for humans: it's simply the norm, as it was the norm to use lead on loads and loads of products and technology.

Now, while we do know that the 8 hours sleep is a myth, this is only because we know that there is variation, not that sleeping few hours is more beneficial to everyone. And this is precisely what happens during most WBTB: although some people take into account this loss, many simply WBTB effectively loosing 20-60 minutes of sleep just to WILD. One could argue if that was healthy at all, but since we still don't have enough data, conclusions can't be made either way. Caution is advised: WBTB and WILD may not be for everyone.

Even more problems surge with the sometimes called "micro WBTB", since studies do point out on the negative impacts of awakenings during the night, which seem to have just as of a negative effect as loosing some hours of sleep. What's more, is that even if you feel fine, you may still be sleep deprived, because people tend to over evaluate their cognitive performance when sleep deprived.

More normal: seems so. But still not necessarily better or in any way indication that WBTB is healthy (although I'm not accusing you in any way of advocating the contrary).

The human body is actually naturally equipped to have two 4-hours sleep sessions spaced evenly throughout the day rather than one 8-hour all at once

Thank you Zoth. I think you are right. There are not enought cientific studies about this.

I'm not sure about the "micro WBTB" being verified as having a negative effect on cognitive performance and mood. I thought those were supposed to be super short, as in about the time it takes to get up to go pee, not 15 minutes. Do you know of any more studies about that?

p.s. I love reading your posts zoth, you're always so informative and you always give sources, it's wonderful!

Originally Posted by AnotherDreamer

I'm not sure about the "micro WBTB" being verified as having a negative effect on cognitive performance and mood. I thought those were supposed to be super short, as in about the time it takes to get up to go pee, not 15 minutes. Do you know of any more studies about that?

It seems that is more about the disruption of your sleep cycle than the duration of the wakefulness period. But you do make a very good point: In her book "The Mind at Night", Andrea Rock mentions a study performed by Rosalind Cartwright (an advocant of the theory of dreams as a emotional regulation mechanism) in which patients suffering from depression would have their REM stages interrupted several times a night. This is because clinically depressed people have some differences in dream content and REM occurrence/prevalence throughout their sleep cycles - in the same way they present increased rumination/negative thoughts, they also show more negative content in their dreams, and earlier in the sleep cycles, so the study was performed to see if there was a positive impact on mood-regulation. A side-effect of these kinds of study (if you end up measuring it) is that you get to observe the REM pressure, consequence of the interruption of the sleep cycle.

I've discussed this subject briefly with Sensei and VagalTone (the later one is even making an experience!), but thanks to you I've remembered that I still have some reading to do regarding Cartwright, she has loads of interesting research!