The latest research reports have indicated how one of a pair of teenage boys working on research to stay awake for the longest time in 1963 set a global record for staying sleepless for the longest period.
Two teenagers investigated how sleep deprivation affects the paranormal activity
The two teenagers, Bruce McAllister and Randy Gardner, wanted to establish how sleep deprivation affected paranormal activity. Unfortunately, the pair let go of the notion due to practical issues. Still, instead of focusing on the earlier perspective, Randy looked at ways sleep deprivation affects cognitive and physical performance. According to IFL, what was left was tossing a coin to decide the individual that was to stay awake and the note taker. Based on the coin toss, Randy was to stay awake throughout.
This research might have been obscure, but thanks to a local paper, it caught Stanford’s sleep researcher Dr. William C. Dement’s attention. According to BBC, Dr. Dement claims to have been the only one researching sleep. Furthermore, he indicates that Gardener’s parents were concerned that the study might affect the teen’s well-being. However, it is vital to note that the relationship between sleeplessness with death is still unclear.
Interestingly, IFL said death wasn’t completely out of the equation. Past studies have shown a connection between sleeplessness, paranoia, suspicion, and other problems. In addition, Dr. Dement was responsible for supervising the experiment.
Sleep deprivation leads to hallucinations
Researchers made Gardner play pinball and basketball to keep him awake, preventing him from lying down. Whenever he was in the toilet, they told him to keep talking. The initial phases of the study were smooth, but on the second day, the teen had problems identifying objects. By the third day, he had difficulties with tongue twisters and exhibited moodiness.
On the fourth day, memory issues were accompanied by hallucination and delusion episodes. Years later, Gardner said he thought he was San Diego Chargers player Paul Lowe. Gardner had hallucinations the following days and will see things spiraling down.
