40 Things You Didn’t Know About Getting Sleep
Healthbolt thinks sleep is important for lots of reasons. And anything that’s as integral to our well being and takes up 1/5 or more of our lives is worth knowing a lot about. The National Sleep Research Project brings us this list of little-known facts about sleep. Here’s some of my favorites:
- The record for the longest period without sleep is 18 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes during a rocking chair marathon. The record holder reported hallucinations, paranoia, blurred vision, slurred speech and memory and concentration lapses.
- A new baby typically results in 400-750 hours lost sleep for parents in the first year.
- Scientists have not been able to explain a 1998 study showing a bright light shone on the backs of human knees can reset the brain’s sleep-wake clock.
- The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska, the Challenger space shuttle disaster and the Chernobyl nuclear accident have all been attributed to human errors in which sleep-deprivation played a role.
- Ducks at risk of attack by predators are able to balance the need for sleep and survival, keeping one half of the brain awake while the other slips into sleep mode.
- Experts say one of the most alluring sleep distractions is the 24-hour accessibility of the internet.
40 Amazing Facts About Sleep - The National Sleep Research Project
Technorati Tags: sleep, facts, REM, rest
3 opinions for 40 Things You Didn’t Know About Getting Sleep
Christoph Wagner
Nov 30, 2006 at 7:13 pm
Experts say one of the most alluring sleep distractions is the 24-hour accessibility of the internet.
Yeah, right. Reading this knowing that I have 3 minutes to get to bed if I want to have at least 5 hours of sleep before a day of university and work…
Wade
Nov 30, 2006 at 9:23 pm
Yeah, I’m the same way. I’m thinking of installing a swing-away desk on the throne in my bathroom…
chariz hernandez
Nov 27, 2007 at 5:54 pm
hello
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