Hacking Sleep:
evolution of sleep:
Simple, singular sleep patterns are a behavioral adaptation more than a superior evolutionary development.
As man's ancestors emerged from the primortial forests, they were quite vulnerable. Though they lacked the speed, strength and stature of their rivals, it was their limited night vision that posed the greatest threat. Unable to effectively hunt or gather except by daylight, early man was also susceptible to predators whose night vision was superior. Simply put, he was less likely to find food and more likely to become food.
While it can be argued that those ancestors with the cognitive intuition to identify the advantages of a prolonged evening sleep period no doubt survived to pass on this intellectual asset to subsequent generations, it remains an adaptation. By resting at night and concentrate on the more risky routines of obtaining food during the day, he applied this understanding and survived past the demise of many of his rivals.
Aside from domesticated animals, few mammals have one sustained evening sleep period and those who do are oftent the decendants of
polyphasic sleep
dietary modification
stacking
circadian rhythm
electrical stimulation
exercycling
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