Eye catching article title, isn't it?

I adopted what some people would consider a ridiculous sleeping pattern during some of my college days, but hell, at least I was getting sleep, unlike some people. It usually wouldn't be for terribly many days in a given week though sometimes. If I had a lot of homework I knew I wouldn't get done, and I didn't have the drive for it, I'd sleep the evening away, wake up in the middle of the night feeling good as new. Then I'd finish my homework, hang out with my girlfriend who's on a different time zone, and possibly get a bit more sleep before school started again. On more regular days I would just take a nap for 1.5 - 3 hours because I knew I wouldn't be doing anything more than the bare minimum of lazy. And if I was gonna be lazy for a night, I'd rather be conscious enough to enjoy it :p.

On with the article. Some people suggest that 20 min naps every six hours in a day keeps you just as alert after getting used to it for 3 weeks. As if you'd really know you were just as alert after subjecting yourself to that kind of sleep deprivation. "All the geniuses did it, so we should do it tooo". I'm pretty sure the only reason they did it, is because their minds were buzzing on a regular non-stop basis that caused them to do amazing things and keep them awake regardless.

[url=http://healthandfitness.sympatico.msn.ca/Is+Sleep+Really+Necessary/healthyliving/ContentPosting_MH?isfa=1&newsitemid=251927&feedname=RODALE-MENHEALTH&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=False[/b]Linky![/url]

my course has taught me different..sleep deprivation causes rats to die and many deficits in humans...sleep helps us restore and replenish...and the end result of this guys experiments really adds to the scientific evidence

and now for me personally i need 9 hours straight to be at optimum level...napping just doesnt work for me really

In psychology in hs many moons ago, I heard same as Rose. That sleep deprivation causes problems. So that's not something I'd try.

As for my sleep pattern, it's one of a nightowl, always has been. Usually 8-9 hours, equals fully recovered me. I sleep in the daytime and up all night. Morning is my sleepiest moment and afternoon- evening when I usually awake. I can work off 3 hours sleep in two days, but only if necessary.

yeah i'm starting to become sort of a night owl but i want to sort my schedule out

Don't know about the rest of you but for me it's pretty darn necessary.