Why we nap : evolution, chronobiology, and functions of polyphasic and ultrashort sleep

摘要: J URGEN AscHOFF "Very bad habit! Very habit!" Captain Giles to Joseph Conrad who had taken a siesta. -Conrad: The Shadow Line On the Multiplicity of Rest-Activity Cycles: Some Historical and Conceptual Notes According its title this book tries answer profound question why we nap-and was wrong in blaming for having napped. However, volume term nap is not used narrower sense an afternoon siesta; instead, emphasis placed on recurrent alternation between states alertness drowsiness, i. e. , rest-activity cycles high er frequency throughout 24 hr. In view focus, two authors (Stampi, Chapter I, Ball, 3) rightly refer psychologist Szymanski among first describe "polyphasic" activity patterns. Hence, I consider it appropriate open foreword with few historical remarks. At time when (1920) made distinction "monophasic" patterns sleep-wake cy- cles, respectively, much known about mechanisms such temporal structures. Although botanists quite some ago demonstrated endogenous nature sleep movements plants, hypothesis (still unknown) external driving force favored by those studied rhythms animals humans (Aschoff, 1990).