Polyphasic sleep

Polyphasic sleep is a strategy employed by some people who want to spend more time awake. “Poly” means “many” and the aim is to have several shorter sleep periods throughout the 24-hour day, rather than one 8-hour sleep period over night. Advocates claim that this allows the person to sleep less total time, and therefore have more time for waking activities. This type of sleep pattern is even called an Uberman's sleep schedule – Uberman being the German word for Over-Man or Super-Man. The idea is that with more waking time, the person will be able to accomplish more productive work.

Advocates believe that while ordinary sleep consists of many cycles, much of the sleep period is wasted time, and REM sleep is the most important. It is believed that after being deprived of sleep during an adjustment period, the brain will start to enter the Stage 4 (deep sleep) and REM sleep much quicker - with the result that each short nap contains almost solely of such sleep.

It used to be thought by scientists that REM is the main reason we sleep and that REM is largely responsible for the mental rejuvenation effects. Scientists no longer believe this. Humans typically (normal pattern) get their daily sleep in one long stetch (go to bed at night; get up in the morning), while other mammals are usually practice polyphasic sleep patterns. This pattern may have evolved in an attempt to remain vigilant against predators.

There is not much scientific evidence to support the polyphasic sleep theory. Sleep researchers do not work in this field, and the medical establishment, including sleep specialists, do not recommend this technique.

People involved in extraordinary circumstances sometimes use polyphasic sleep if they cannot afford to be sleeping for long periods. For instance, open-ocean yacht racers use this technique. Astronauts in space missions and military personnel in training use polyphasic sleep.

However, different people vary widely in their sleep needs, and there are anecdotes of geniuses such as Leonardo Da Vince and Thomas Edison sleeping in a polyphasic pattern. This has led to some people thinking they can increase their productivity by employing polyphasic sleep.

Sleep and the athlete - psychomotor vigilance

Resources

Avoiding Drowsy Driving

Countermeasures

Responsibility and the Drowsy Driver

Signs of Drowsiness when Driving

How Well Are You Sleeping? - FDA Consumer Article

Circadian gene helps brain predict mealtime

Sleep less, live longer? - Increased Death Rate Associated
With Sleeping 8 Hours or More

Circadan Rythyms

"And miles to go before I sleep"

(Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening)