Each and every night we close our eyes and drift off into a state of mild unconsciousness. It is a process so common that it consumes nearly one-third of our lives. This translates to an estimated twenty-six years spent in slumber if we assume the average American lifespan of seventy-eight. Now that’s a heck of a lot of time. But for a process so common to the human experience, sleep is still associated with an incredible number of unknowns.
1. Guinness World Records no longer supports sleep deprivation records.
The most cited record for sleepless hours was held by seventeen-year-old Randy Gardner of the U.S., who stayed awake for an astonishing 264 hours back in 1964. Since this time, however, the record has been broken on numerous counts. But Gardner’s time still holds the most weight as it was independently verified by the most rigorous methods (Gardner was monitored by physicians as part of a sleep-deprivation study).
Part of the problem in determining who really holds the record lies with the determining body, Guinness World Records (formerly The Guinness Book of Records). As of 1989, Guinness decided to no longer support records of sleep deprivation on the grounds that such records were largely unverifiable and could encourage actions harmful to human health. Oddly enough, such a disclaimer could probably apply to many of the risky records recorded by Guinness.
2. It’s a myth that you shouldn’t wake a sleepwalker.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not dangerous to wake a sleepwalker. Modern myth has it that doing so might result in dire consequences. But in reality, a sleepwalker will rarely react with anger upon being awoken. Instead, they may be a little confused, disoriented, annoyed, or even embarrassed, but rarely will they respond with hostility.
