The Surprising Sleep Secret Hidden in Our Ancestors’ Nighttime Habits—And Why It Could Change Your Life Tonight
For example, they could have referred to peculiar sleeping circumstances, such as needing to wake in the middle of the night to perform a household task like stoking the fire or checking on livestock. They also may have been recording normal phases of sleep that we now categorize as Rapid Eye Movement (REM) or non-REM.
Furthermore, historians have not found consistent references to biphasic sleep across the globe. If this were truly a natural phenomenon, it’s likely that it would appear in records from different cultures throughout history.
All of this is not to say that biphasic sleep did not happen. Instead, it simply calls into question whether it was natural or cultural — and, in places where it did occur, how widespread it really was. Still, it’s certainly fair to say that some people in the Middle Ages were probably awake during the night and may have engaged in social activities during that time.
The Morgan Library & MuseumDuring the Middle Ages, families may have risen around midnight to add wood to the fire or pray.
However, this doesn’t mean that modern humans should convert their own sleep to a biphasic schedule. Some studies have even shown that the sleep pattern can have detrimental health effects.
Still, viewers of Natoli’s video were enthusiastic about the idea. “I was definitely surprised by the amount of people who said they already practice some form of segmented sleep in their daily lives,” Natoli told All That’s Interesting in an email. “I thought it was much less common! Many of those commenters also mentioned how this style of sleeping actually helps their insomnia and leads to them feeling more rested throughout the day.”
Natoli noted that when she “came across the idea of biphasic sleep, and especially how it was believed to be common during the medieval period,” she was “fascinated.”
“Learning how industrialization and changing lifestyles contributed to its decline made me want to learn more and understand how a segmented sleep pattern benefited people throughout history, and whether or not it still has relevance today,” Natoli said.
She also echoed expert opinion that biphasic sleep was not something practiced by everyone throughout history. “I think one thing that often gets misunderstood is that this style of sleeping was not universal,” Natoli explained. “While there is strong historical evidence that segmented sleep was common in many societies, it wasn’t practiced by everyone or in every culture.”
After reading about the theory of biphasic sleep, explore these 21 bizarre facts about sleep. Then, learn about the Hat Man who haunts people’s dreams.
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