Why polyphasic sleep works

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Frontiers in Psychology, 7, Tucker, M. Comparing the effects of sleep and rest on memory consolidation. Nature and Science of Sleep, 12, 79— Abbott, S. Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders. The Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 38 4 , — Bonnet, M. Clinical effects of sleep fragmentation versus sleep deprivation. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 7 4 , — National Sleep Foundation. Summary of findings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Association between work productivity and sleep health: A cross-sectional study in Japan. Sleep Health, 6 3 , — Filardi, M. Pre-race sleep management strategy and chronotype of offshore solo sailors. Learn more about How Sleep Works. Updated By Eric Suni March 10, Oversleeping By Austin Meadows November 3, By Danielle Pacheco November 11, By Eric Suni November 4, By Eric Suni November 2, By Rob Newsom September 20, By Jay Summer September 2, By Danielle Pacheco August 26, By Jay Summer August 26, What Kind of Sleeper Are You?

By Danielle Pacheco January 8, How is Sleep Different for Men and Women? By Eric Suni November 13, Are Natural Sleep Aids Safe? Is Snoring Harmless? By Danielle Pacheco November 13, By Danielle Pacheco November 6, What Happens When You Sleep? Who else can you invite to the party? Stress hormones such as cortisol, which can trigger " obesity , high blood pressure, insulin resistance and drastic changes in mood," Watson says. So why would anyone choose to switch from a monophasic to polyphasic sleep schedule unless circumstances required it?

According to Watson, nothing but sheer irony: "One of the interesting things about sleep deprivation is that the more sleep-deprived a person is, the worse they become at judging their own sleepiness. I was more than a bit daunted at the prospect of writing about polyphasic sleep until I realized I had personal experience with the topic. The kind of experience where you walk into walls. Or can't remember your husband's middle name.

Or lose a pound dog in a hallway. Writing the article reminded me to be grateful for every second of glorious, unadulterated monophasic sleep I get now that my child is sleeping through the night. However, if the very act of writing this somehow jinxes that situation, I take it all back. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots.

Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Life Science. Inside the Mind. The Human Brain. How Polyphasic Sleep Works.

Parents of newborns often turn into polyphasic sleepers right alongside their babies, although this little one doesn't seem too interested in dozing. Making the Switch to Polyphasic Sleep.

From the Beginning Though it would make newborn parenting a lot easier -- and infinitely more enjoyable -- if babies slept overnight from the get-go, everyone actually starts out as polyphasic sleepers. Stages of Sleep. Read More.

Working Against Your System " ". Night bus driver Chitpinit Kaewchaluay checks his bus on Dec. Chitpinit will drive the night bus from midnight until 6 a. The Life Hack: Uberman or Everyman? Fisher works from 7 p. We're hoping he gets a big chunk of satisfying sleep during the day. Making the Switch to Polyphasic Sleep Since polyphasic sleep isn't recommended in the medical community, it's not well-documented. Science Spaceflight What is it like to sleep in space?

Science The Human Brain Is science phasing out sleep? Science Everyday Myths Does the full moon affect your sleep? Science The Human Brain Can sleeping with a concussion kill you? Science The Human Brain Why are demons blamed for sleep paralysis? Health Sleep Basics Can melatonin help you sleep better? Health Sleep Basics Why do we sleep?

Health Osteoarthritis How does sleep affect osteoarthritis? Health Sleep Basics Will you die if you never sleep? Health Sleep Disorders Does sleep deprivation lead to risky decisions? Health Headache How do my sleep and rest patterns affect my headaches? Health Sleep Basics How many hours of sleep do you really need? Some sleep patterns mean a person will sleep once per day while others mean they sleep at intervals.

However, the pattern that is most common in a population may or may not be the healthiest option for people. This inconsistency means some individuals report that they are not getting enough sleep, irrespective of the number of hours they have per night. People have an internal circadian rhythm, a routine of biological and behavioral processes that roughly occur every day over a hour cycle. Despite this, what is the correct time for a person to sleep per night?

In this article, we learn more about the three types of sleep patterns that are most common. These sleep patterns are described below. There is, however, discussion that this has not always been the case. Some argue that since the advent of electricity and increased exposure to bright light, melatonin levels are decreasing, as they would if a person were exposed to sunlight.

Those who practice biphasic sleep typically sleep for a long duration at night, for hours, and have a shorter period of sleep or siesta during the day. The shorter period of rest typically lasts 30 minutes and gives an energy boost to finish the day. However, a siesta can last for longer, perhaps 90 minutes.

An extended siesta of 90 minutes allows a person to have one complete cycle of sleep. Some say that biphasic sleep is a healthier sleep pattern than a monophasic pattern, and some countries have adopted a biphasic sleep pattern as the normal one. Another form of biphasic sleep is segmented sleep, which some may refer to as the most natural of all sleeping patterns.