Question

What is bi‐phasic or polyphasic sleep? How do those relate to how people used to sleep versus how we sleep now?

A) Biphasic sleep consists of two short sleep periods in a 24-hour cycle, while polyphasic sleep consists of multiple short sleep periods. Historically, people often practiced biphasic or polyphasic sleep, but in modern society, monophasic sleep (a single long sleep period) is more common.
B) Biphasic sleep consists of two long sleep periods in a 24-hour cycle, while polyphasic sleep consists of multiple long sleep periods. Historically, people often practiced biphasic or polyphasic sleep, but in modern society, monophasic sleep (a single long sleep period) is more common.
C) Biphasic sleep consists of two long sleep periods in a 24-hour cycle, while polyphasic sleep consists of multiple short sleep periods. Historically, people often practiced monophasic sleep (a single long sleep period), but in modern society, biphasic and polyphasic sleep are more common.
D) Biphasic sleep consists of two short sleep periods in a 24-hour cycle, while polyphasic sleep consists of multiple short sleep periods. Historically, people often practiced

Answer 1

Bi-phasic sleep involves two periods of slumber in a day, while polyphasic sleep consists of multiple snoozes. Historically, sleep was more aligned with natural rhythms and involved napping; modern lifestyles have shifted us toward a monophasic, night-focused sleep schedule. Sleep needs and patterns vary with age and biological rhythms.

Step-by-step explanation:

Bi-Phasic and Polyphasic Sleep

Bi-phasic sleep is a pattern in which a person has two distinct sleep periods throughout a 24-hour cycle, whereas polyphasic sleep includes multiple short sleep periods across the day. Historically, humans displayed a variety of sleep patterns including bi-phasic and polyphasic sleep. Primeval societies followed natural sleep-wake cycles, often sleeping in alignment with darkness and taking naps when needed during daylight hours. This contrasts with the modern monophasic pattern, where individuals typically sleep once for an extended period at night.

In contemporary times, sleep is influenced by the demands of modern living and work schedules, often at odds with our natural circadian rhythms. Our circadian rhythms are regulated by our brain's suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and are influenced by external cues like light. Disruptions to this cycle due to lifestyle changes or shift work can lead to sleep problems.

It's important to understand that the amount of sleep we need changes throughout our lifespan. As children, we may require up to 16 hours of sleep, but as we age, this need decreases. Our understanding of why we sleep and the intricate physiology of sleep, involving stages of REM and NREM and various brain waves, continues to evolve.