Why do humans actually sleep? The recovery phase occurs due to a command in the brain, because it uses the sleep phases to give itself and the body a rest. Sleep is interpreted differently by many people. For example, there are people who can get by with just a few hours of it as long as they can take a short 20-minute nap at noon, while others cannot start the day properly unless they have slept less than eight hours. Some, on the other hand, suffer from sleep disorders and are unable to recover properly over a long period of time. There are also those who only become properly productive in the evening hours and others whose circulation shuts down after work. Accordingly, sleep research continues to be very topical and for this reason is concerned with different sleep patterns and types. Reason enough to explain the different characteristics of sleep types.
Sleep patterns – different life situations have different sleep patterns.
Frequently occurring sleep disorders should first be examined by the family doctor and, if necessary, further treated in the sleep laboratory. A distinction can be made between several sleep patterns, which can change repeatedly over the course of a lifetime. While newborns have several sleep and wake phases, for most adults the body’s recovery lies in an eight-hour sleep period during the night. In old age, on the other hand, the behavior changes again, because then people no longer need as much sleep and the duration shortens. Because of the differences, experts differentiate between five sleep patterns that apply in different life situations.
- Monophasic sleep pattern
This represents the conventional eight-hour sleep pattern that is standard in today’s society.
- Biphasic sleep pattern
Is also typical for adults, but more for the older generation. Sleep at night amounts to only six hours. In addition, a nap of 20 minutes serves to make up for the deficit. Alternatively, a 90-minute nap can be chosen. In this case, only 4.5 hours of night sleep is sufficient.
- “Everyman” sleep pattern
Divided into several sleep phases during the day and a longer main sleep phase at night, this pattern is particularly characterized by several short “naps”. Accordingly, the sleep requirement at night amounts to only 1.5 to 4.5 hours.
- “Dymaxion” sleep pattern
This “dynamic maximum tension” does not require a main sleep phase at all. In turn, there are four half-hour rest periods, but strictly every six hours. In this way, the sleep requirement is also covered. Thus, the duration amounts to about two hours a day.
- “Superhuman” sleep pattern
Also in this pattern, the sleep duration is only two hours, but here a “nap” of 20 minutes must be taken every four hours. In this way, a person comes to a maximum of two hours a day, but still covers all his sleep needs.
Sleep types – more than just “lark” and “owl”
For a long time, sleep types were characterized only by these two types. However, it is now clear that this topic is much more complex, which is why at least two more terms are needed to adequately represent sleep types. The Russian sleep researcher Arkady Putilov is researching the definition of new sleep types. According to him, there are people who are highly alert in the morning and evening and those who are lethargic at all times of the day. According to the researcher, this does not depend on the lack of sleep or the quality or duration of sleep, but simply differs between individuals. Nevertheless, the types “lark” and “owl” are socially recognized. The “larks” get tired early in the evening and wake up early the next day. This is due to the circadian clock, which for some people is not 24 hours but only 23. In “owls”, on the other hand, this clock lasts between 24.5 and 25.5 hours. Consequently, they get tired later, but sleep correspondingly longer the next day. Mentally, these are able to perform late at night, while “larks” on the other hand are capable of greater loads in the morning.In an adult, genes decide to which sleep type he belongs. One extreme in this respect is the so-called “Familial Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome. In this hereditary disorder, people are so tired by 6 p.m. in the evening that they have to go to bed. Conversely, they wake up as early as four in the morning and are well rested. This is due to a mutation in the PER2 gene, which in turn causes a feedback loop. For this reason, the internal clock runs faster or in a different rhythm than the actual time of day. This is only one genetic mutation that affects people’s sleeping habits. Several different ones have since been discovered, providing additional support for Putilov’s claim.
Processes in the body during sleep
DasErste.de describes in an article the processes in the body during a normal night. For most people, fatigue is caused by the change of light, that is, dusk. This is because it activates cells of the retina, which in turn causes an increase in melatonin levels. After falling asleep, the body’s recovery phase begins. The muscles regenerate and the skin, hair and bones also begin to grow. The body slowly falls into deep sleep. After another hour, the REM sleep phase finally begins. The term REM stands for “Rapid Eye Movement” because the eyes move behind the closed eyelids during this phase. During this time, the visual and emotional centers in particular are in operation. Different dreams are the result, in which, according to the theory, the emotional balance of the person is regulated. Those who have restless sleep phases, suffer from insomnia or problems falling asleep, can counteract by homeopathic remedies. Hops have been considered a medicinal herb since ancient times, helping with restlessness and sleep disorders, among other things. For this reason, the herb is also used in pharmacy as the basis of many medicines, including remedies designed to promote sleep.
