Thread: Logic behind polyphasic sleep?

Eight hours versus two hours. That's a huge difference in sleep time and apparently it works for some people. I had heard a theory that there is no physical need for sleep, it's mainly to reduce psychological stress we accrue throughout the day.

Is there any credibility to that claim?
Is this why taking six twenty minute naps can be (after one is adapted to it) just as refreshing as a full eight hour block of sleep?

It's proven, and makes sense, that doing things in moderation is much easier psychologically and is more beneficial. For example, studying a few minutes and taking breaks versus cramming. But resting in moderation? It all seems very controversial, which makes it all the more interesting.

If anyone has any wisdom or opinions to share, please shed some light.

Originally Posted by ericwd

I had heard a theory that there is no physical need for sleep

Experimentally, rats have died when subjected to extreme sleep dep:

However. these profoundly sleep-deprived rats did exhibit a unique syndrome consisting of a progressive increase in energy expenditure, a debilitated appearance (Figs. 3 and 4), the development of distinctive skin lesions (Figs. 5 and 6), and thermoregulatory changes, and eventual death - which had never been documented in any conventionally stressed rats in an experimental setting (4).

See Sleep Deprivation: Basic Science, Physiology, and Behavior By Clete Anthony Kushida for some good info.

Originally Posted by archdreamer

Experimentally, rats have died when subjected to extreme sleep dep:



See Sleep Deprivation: Basic Science, Physiology, and Behavior By Clete Anthony Kushida for some good info.

well the whole point is that polyphasic forces your body to sleep in a way that satifies your basic needs that keeps you from getting sleep deprevation and many people have said that they are less tired because they get more REM sleep than normal people. Of course this is at the expense of less tangible things like you needing to eat more to keep up with your bodies higher use, a less strong immune system, more stress on your body, and yo will become miserable if u skip a nap.

My best friends brother did it for 6 months straight and held a job and got paid well because they let him take naps and he worked late at night (because he didn't sleep). So if you can manage it and get a perfect it will be amazing....if you don't have a flexible schdule give up while ur ahead.



note: sleep deprevation will kill you. Your body requires sleep in order to live and do basic functions which the most of which happen during REM.

Thus the concept behind polyphasic is to train your body to get right down to the nitty gritty and the moment you sleep to preform the most important stuff first. This goes back to caveman times when we had make sacrifies and sleeping for 8 hours could mean no food for your starving family. Thus we are able to do this for short bursts at the expanse of our overall "wellbeing".

It all sounds really cool. I would really like to try the Uberman schedule before I get stuck with any real responsibilities.

Has anyone had experience with healing injuries or being sick while doing the Uberman?

It sounds like the early stages of monophasic sleep is when the body best physically restores itself. So is it logical to say a sore muscle or a cold could last much longer while on the Uberman schedule?

Originally Posted by ericwd

It all sounds really cool. I would really like to try the Uberman schedule before I get stuck with any real responsibilities.

Has anyone had experience with healing injuries or being sick while doing the Uberman?

It sounds like the early stages of monophasic sleep is when the body best physically restores itself. So is it logical to say a sore muscle or a cold could last much longer while on the Uberman schedule?

A sore muscles don't heal since its just breaking down acid and that has nothing to do with "healing".

But yea your body will not heal as fast and their is a reason that when you get a cold they say "get plenty of sleep".

Than again your basically putting your body on overdrive so there will be some problems/ You will probobly have more appetite.

BTW have you looked into the everyman scedule. You get like 3 hours of sleep instead of 2 hours but its a ltitle bit more managable as you only need to take 4 naps instead of 6 and its less harsh.

Bascially you just take a two hour "core sleep". Also with everyman you probobly wouldn't have a problem with healing andcolds etc sicne you still getting some deep sleep.

I have heard of Everyman! In fact, I've been looking for a good detailed description of it. I heard it's possible to delay naps if needed, which is huge advantage over the rigidness of Uberman.

I think the Everyman will be my fall back if the Uberman utterly fails for me.

Started a blog to document this experiment, if anyone is interested. I imagine I'm really going to need some encouragement during the adaptation.
http://ericwd.blogspot.com/