It Turns Out We've Been Sleeping Wrong For Centuries

Summary

In the early 20th century, Paul Kern, a Hungarian soldier, survived a head injury that left him unable to sleep for 35 years. This unusual case sparks a deeper exploration into the mystery of sleep. Historically, humans used to follow a biphasic sleep pattern, sleeping in two blocks with a period of wakefulness in between. The introduction of artificial lighting and changes in societal behaviors led to the shift toward monophasic sleep. While sleep’s full purpose remains unknown, research suggests that biphasic sleep may still occur naturally for some, raising the question of whether we’ve forgotten a healthier way to rest.

Takeaways

• 😀 Paul Kern, a Hungarian soldier from 1915, survived a gunshot wound to the head that left him unable to sleep for the rest of his life, making his case highly unique.
• 😀 Sleep is essential for all humans and animals with brains, but the exact purpose of sleep remains largely unknown despite its biological importance.
• 😀 Humans traditionally used to sleep in two distinct blocks, known as 'biphasic' sleep, which was common in medieval Europe and many other cultures.
• 😀 Historical references to biphasic sleep, such as the terms 'first sleep' and 'second sleep,' indicate that humans once had segmented sleep patterns.
• 😀 Between the two sleep blocks, people would wake up naturally for a few hours during the night, often engaging in activities like socializing, praying, or doing chores.
• 😀 Modern humans typically follow a monophasic sleep pattern, sleeping in one long block, a change that is believed to have started in the 17th century with the advent of artificial lighting.
• 😀 The introduction of street lighting in cities like Paris and London, as well as 24-hour coffeehouses, gradually shifted human behavior and caused people to sleep later into the night.
• 😀 The transition to monophasic sleep likely contributed to the rise of sleep-related issues, such as insomnia, which became more prominent during the 18th century.
• 😀 Studies, such as one conducted in the early 1990s, have shown that humans may naturally revert to biphasic sleep patterns under controlled light-dark conditions.
• 😀 Although biphasic sleep was once common, modern comforts and safety, combined with artificial lighting and societal changes, may have made monophasic sleep the norm, though segmented sleep patterns are still observed by some people today.

Q & A

Who was Paul Kern, and what was unusual about his sleep patterns?

Paul Kern was a Hungarian soldier who survived a gunshot wound to the head during World War I. After the injury, he lost the ability to sleep entirely, living for 35 years without any sleep. Despite this, he remained physically healthy until his later years when neurological symptoms developed.

What is bifphasic sleep, and how was it practiced historically?

Biphasic sleep refers to a pattern where people sleep in two distinct blocks, with a period of wakefulness in between. Historically, people would go to bed early, sleep for a few hours, then wake up for a couple of hours of wakefulness (the 'watch'), before returning to sleep for a second block of hours until morning.

What is the 'watch' in relation to bifphasic sleep?

The 'watch' refers to the period of wakefulness between the two sleep blocks in a biphasic sleep pattern. This wakeful period, which typically occurred in the early hours of the morning, was used for activities like prayer, socializing, or simply contemplating the day.

Why did humans historically follow a biphasic sleep pattern?

Humans followed a biphasic sleep pattern because, before the invention of artificial lighting, nighttime was darker and more dangerous. People went to bed early, slept for a few hours, and then woke naturally in the middle of the night. This allowed them to adapt to their environment and social practices of the time.

What role did artificial light play in changing human sleep patterns?

Artificial lighting, first introduced in the 17th century and gradually expanding with gas and electric lights, allowed people to extend their waking hours into the night. As lighting improved, people stayed up later and went to bed later, which made biphasic sleep less practical and contributed to the shift towards monophasic sleep patterns.

What evidence suggests that biphasic sleep was common throughout human history?

Historian Roger Ur discovered over 2,000 references to biphasic sleep in historical documents, including novels, court records, and diaries. These references date back to ancient Greece and were common in medieval Europe, suggesting that segmented sleep was the natural sleep pattern for much of human history.

Why did Roger Ur find it surprising that people used to sleep biphasically?

Roger Ur was surprised by this discovery because modern humans are typically taught to sleep in a single block, and the idea of biphasic sleep seemed strange. It was also surprising because the practice of biphasic sleep had been largely forgotten or overlooked by most people and scholars.

How did the introduction of coffeehouses and street lighting impact sleep patterns?

The introduction of coffeehouses in the 17th century, many of which were open 24 hours due to street lighting, led to changes in people's nighttime behavior. The availability of activities and social spaces after dark, along with increased safety due to street lighting, contributed to people staying up later, which eventually displaced the biphasic sleep pattern in favor of monophasic sleep.

What connection exists between segmented sleep and modern insomnia?

Roger Ur suggests that some forms of insomnia might be an echo of our ancient biphasic sleep pattern. In the modern world, many people struggle to sleep in one uninterrupted block, but waking up in the middle of the night might not be as problematic as we believe—since it was once a natural part of the human sleep cycle.

What are some potential benefits or drawbacks of reverting to a biphasic sleep pattern?

The potential benefit of reverting to biphasic sleep could be a more natural sleep rhythm, especially for people who wake up in the middle of the night. However, the modern world, with its work schedules and social obligations, may make it difficult to adopt such a sleep pattern. Additionally, modern sleeping conditions are far more comfortable, which may make monophasic sleep more practical.