American Randy Gardner holds the record for the longest ever scientifically documented intentional period without sleep.
Without the aid of stimulants, he managed to stay awake for 264.4 hours, or 11 days and 24 minutes.
Part of his motivation was to show that sleep deprivation wasn’t that bad for you.
He was wrong: it is bad for you.
In fact he suffered paranoia, hallucinations, moodiness and a whole host of psychological problems, many described below.
It’s just he did not notice many of the problems: that’s how sleep deprivation gets you.
Here are 10 of the most profound psychological effects of sleep deprivation, on top of the fact that it feels horrible.
1. Sleepy brains work harder
2. Short-term memory is shot
3. Long-term memory is shot
4. Attention is shot
5. Planning is shot
6. Habits take over
7. Risky business
8. Dying brain cells
9. Mania
10. Car crash
The cure
The good news is that the cure for most of these deficits is simple: just one good night’s sleep will often do the trick.
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