do you sleep?

How many hours of sleep do you get?

  • 10 or more

  • 9

  • 8

  • 7

  • 6

  • 5

  • 4 or less

  • Variable

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Not sure what you're asking there, Arden. Are you asking for specifics on how my hippocampus is messed up, or what?

If it's that - it's slightly misshapen. I actually don't know all the effects of this. Plus, like the doc said, my brain is wired funny. Meaning, I use parts of my brain that most people don't, and don't use parts that other people do. Doc said I use the "extra" parts to make up for the fact that I don't use the normal parts. That's paraphrasing there, he didn't say it like that. Basically, my brain remapped parts so it could function normally.

S'pose I'm lucky, 'cause it doesn't really affect me that badly. As I wrote in the drug thread, some mild hallucinations is about it. Well, one other thing that I can think of that I'm pretty sure is related - I'll forget a word every now and then. I'll be talking, and want to say something, and I can't say it because I've forgotten the word. I mean totally forgotten here - all associations that go with the word as well. I can't even describe what I'm trying to say. It's like there's just a blank spot there where the word used to be. Luckily it's only temporary - I'll usually remember the word somewhere around 15 minutes or so later. Usually I blurt it out when I do. :p
 
I've definately found that exercising, in my case jogging 3 or 4 miles through the park during the day, makes sleeping at night very easy. When I don't exercise, my brain is still alert when I lay down.

But the worst destroyer of sleep I've found is when I watch a lot of news before bed or play video games before bed, it just fires up too many neurons when I do that, and I'll lay down and my mind is still in full-alert mode. I don't recommend that.

Like the articles said, reading a book works very very well. The best sleeper books for me are unbiased history or science that's hard to understand. This book I'm reading right now called Beyond Evolution has me to sleep in 5 minutes! I also have my favorite sleeper standby, Naked Lunch by William Burroughs, my favorite author book of all time.
 
Just get a book of the laws of your state or country and try to read that when you go to sleep.

I was going to post this earlier, but I never got around to it. I went to Summerfest this year in Modesto because the band Lifehouse played. They were really the main reason I went. So anyway, I like to stand in front of the stage during concerts like these, and I did with Lifehouse. Midway through their act, while they were still playing, I swear I started to fall asleep, on my feet, in the middle of the crowd. I just couldn't keep my eyes open, even though I was still listenin' to the music. It was really weird.

Also: Insomnia is not defined by the length of time it takes you to fall asleep, but by the quality of sleep you get.
 
More links for those interested:

http://netscape.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jul2003/nf20030711_4474_db035.htm

and on a somewhat related note:

http://forums.compuserve.com/gvforums/default.asp?SRV=womensforum&MSG=688183

Text here:

There has been controversy over the ability to increase one's IQ. Some researchers say that one's IQ is a product of heredity and thus you are stuck with what you have. Other researchers say that you can do something to increase your intelligence levels.

I decided to search some and see what I could find out on what you can do to increase your IQ. Here is what I found.

1. Diet - Food for the body is fuel for the brain. When poor nutrition was a factor, those involved had lower IQ levels. Eating the right diet, one rich in the B-vitamins, folic acid, beta carotene, and iron, goes a long way to building a better brain. Remember that the brain uses up 30% of the daily calorie intake.

2. Sleep - The brain of a person who doesn't get enough sleep works harder and accomplishes less. Therefore it goes to show that when a person gets the proper amount of sleep, his/her brain functions far better especially when high-level thinking is involved. Lack of sleep reduces one's problem solving abilities.

3. Proper physical exercise - Physical exercise helps increase the blood flow though out the body and that includes the brain. the heart beats stronger. The blood vessels stay open allowing more blood to flow. With increased blood flow, more nutrients and oxygen flow to the brain.

4. Mental Exercises - here we have the old saying, "Use it or lose it." Whether it's doing word puzzles, memorizing scripture, poetry or famous passages, reading challenging books, playing trivia games -- the learning factor as well as the mental exercises can keep your brain sharp. in fact, any activity that has you thinking and concentrating can challenge your brain thus increasing your brain power.

5. Music - We hear about the Mozart Effect and how it affects babies and has the potential to increase their IQ. It could be possible that the same could be applied to adults as well. Some say they learn better when they play music. But could some music work better than others. Who is to say that soft classical music can't stimulate the brain and make thus it more receptive to learning.

Will these 5 suggestions actually increase one's IQ levels? Maybe, maybe not. But these suggestions are also part of a healthy lifestyle. And that cannot be a bad thing for the brain and as a way of helping the brain function at a higher level.
 
Wouldn't these lifestyle changes help you test at a higher IQ level? I mean, if you're tired and hungry, you aren't thinking as well, but that doesn't mean you're less intelligent than another time. It just means you can't think as well at that particular moment.
 
I try to get at least 6 hours most nights. Otherwise I get very irritable.

7 is the perfect amount for me, but that just never seems to happen anymore.
 
arden,

I tend to agree with your statement too. But as the scientific community likes to point out, test results indicate certain parameters at the time of testing. I think this is why they say you can "increase your intelligence". In reality you aren't increasing your intelligence, you're just increasing the IQ score on a test. I personally believe that IQ is set and finite from our genetics and development. The only thing that can increase an IQ score is taking the test under the optimum conditions (healthy lifestyle, well fed, happy and well balanced - things that make you feel good). I think that everyone has an IQ limit determined by genetics, only your environment will help you reach your full potential (limit).

I only threw in that article about IQ because it mentions sleep and I thought it was relvant to this thread in another context.
 
Hehe, I must be a lucky one. I usually get anywhere from 8 to 13 hours of sleep regularilyerlyirrrrrrr. :D

I'm tired.
 
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