For centuries, humans naturally slept in two distinct nightly segments, but later this pattern got vanished. This study highlights how artificial light and modern schedules disrupted this natural rhythm. Understanding this pattern sheds light on middle-of-the-night awakenings today.
Eternal awakenings, split slumber
It was common practice that humans take two separate naps within a night. The initial rest came soon after the sun went down and it was many hours in duration. After this period of awakening, second sleep ensued until the morning sunlight came.
This trend existed throughout Europe over centuries which are captured in the diaries. Sleep was naturally biphasic and socially accepted during the pre-industrial era.
What Changed Our Sleep Patterns?
The two-phase sleep pattern began disappearing about two centuries ago. Artificial lighting extended evening wakefulness and delayed natural bedtime significantly. Gas lamps, oil lamps, and then electric lights shifted schedules.
People stayed active later into the night, shortening first sleep. Modern life favoured one long, continuous eight-hour sleep segment instead. Social expectations and work schedules reinforced consolidated sleep as normal.
Why People Woke Mid-Night?
Middle-of-the-night wakefulness was natural and biologically normal historically observed. Lack of artificial light regulated melatonin onset and circadian rhythms. The exposure to evening light now makes natural sleep cycles take very long before they can be realized.
Night awakenings today are very mistakenly considered as unfavorable diagnosed insomnia. In the past, these numbers comprised reflective or domestic activities. The contemporary culture eradicated this silent era by means of illumination and habits.
How Science Knows This?
Sleep-laboratories reproduce the pre-industrial light conditions with biphasic tendencies. Low or absent light causes respondents to go back to two-phase sleep. Waking patterns are boosted by historical records on diaries, literature and medical writings.
Anthropological evidence shows biphasic sleep exists in non-industrial societies today. The findings suggest that segmented sleep is a deeply natural human trait.
What This Means Today?
Middle-of-the-night awakenings are not necessarily sleep disorders naturally occurring. Understanding historical sleep patterns can improve modern sleep therapy approaches.
Reintroducing quiet periods may benefit mental health and relaxation routines. Modern life has shifted natural rhythms, but biology remains largely unchanged. Ancient sleep wisdom can inform healthier sleep habits for people.
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