|
HomeTopicsCauses Of Sleep DeprivationPolyphasic Sleep
Alternative Sleep Patterns: Polyphasic Sleep, the Da Vinci Sleep Cycle and Uberman SleepPolyphasic sleep, also known as the Da Vinci sleep cycle, is a sleep pattern that greatly reduces the time individuals spend sleeping, from around six to nine hours a day to about two to five hours each day. In polyphasic sleep, individuals take catnaps throughout the day rather than sleep for a long period of time at night.
Adopting Alternative Sleep PatternsIn order to achieve polyphasic sleep, one must be able to adhere to a rigid catnap schedule, taking a series of 20- to 45-minute naps throughout the day. People who follow this polyphasic sleep schedule admit that the most difficult part is adjusting to the extreme sleep changes. The actual transition period lasts about two weeks, during which it is critical to sleep and wake according to an exact schedule.
Polyphasic sleepers report that once they have adjusted to their new sleep patterns they experience more energy, less body soreness and a sense of heightened clarity, energy and motivation. Natural Sleep Patterns and Polyphasic SleepIn order to understand polyphasic sleep, it is important to understand the natural sleep rhythms that occur in our bodies. Most of us enjoy going to bed at night and sleeping for six to nine hours. Monophasic ("one phase") sleep reflects this single-slotted, longer duration sleep time. Polyphasic ("multiple phase") sleep breaks the sleep cycle up into several short naps.
When talking of alternative sleep cycles, it is interesting to consider the sleep of babies. Infants innately sleep polyphasically, taking many short naps throughout the day. As they mature, they gradually begin to sleep for longer periods, slowly transitioning from polyphasic to monophasic sleepers. Polyphasic Sleep Cycles and REM SleepA basic concern of polyphasic sleep is that a person will not get enough REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and, therefore, will not reap the benefits of dream sleep. However, those who encourage polyphasic sleep believe that the body actually adjusts, incorporating each stage of sleep that one would normally experience during monophasic sleep into the shorter polyphasic bursts.
Polyphasic proponents also believe that the brain will eventually start to enter the essential sleep stages more quickly and more effectively. Therefore, they argue, the body will reap all the benefits of monophasic sleep without having to sleep for hours on end. The Uberman Sleep CycleOne variation of polyphasic sleep is Uberman sleep, which encourages more waking hours through a strict sleep schedule. It allows for just three hours of sleep per day. This sleep is broken up into six 20- to 25-minute naps that are equally distributed throughout a 24-hour period. Proponents of Uberman sleep believe that the short naps compress the less essential sleep stages, allowing mental health to be nourished.
Pros of Polyphasic SleepThose who follow a polyphasic sleep schedule sing its praises. With 22 hours to be awake, a productive day takes on new meaning! Gone are the mornings of stiffness and soreness that come from spending hours in bed. Additionally, some individuals who practice polyphasic sleep report heightened clarity, energy and motivation and an overall improvement in their sense of control.
Cons of Polyphasic SleepCritics of polyphasic sleep are concerned that shifting our natural sleep rhythms can lead to sleep deprivation and its dangerous effects (including depression, weight gain, illnesses, etc.). Here are some of the more common complaints of polyphasic sleepers:
Famous Polyphasic SleepersPolyphasic sleep has been adopted and celebrated by some renowned artists and geniuses. Here is a list of individuals who are believed to have incorporated this type of sleep schedule into their lives:
Resources
Super Memo (n.d.). Polyphasic Sleep; Facts and Myths. Retrieved January 27, 2007, from the Super Memo Web site:
http://www.supermemo.com/articles/polyphasic.htm. Live Journal (n.d.). Uberman Sleep 5 Years Later. Retrieved January 27, 2007, from the Live Journal Web site: http://pure-doxyk.livejournal.com/229675.html.
|
|
