Humans evolved into 'supersleepers'...

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Humans evolved into 'supersleepers'...  

How humans have evolved into 'supersleepers': Researchers find we get better sleep in less time than our nearest relatives
Humans sleep an average of 7 hours, while other primates sleep up to 17
Longer periods of deep sleep stages help humans rest more efficiently
Early humans shortened their sleep patterns long before artificial light 

Blame evolution for your lack of sleep.

A team of Duke University researchers compared the sleep habits of humans with hundreds of mammals, including primates, and found that humans sleep for significantly fewer hours than our closest relatives.

While humans may snooze less, the study found that our sleep is actually more efficient, and more time is spent in the deep stages of sleep.
 

Blame evolution for your lack of sleep. A team of Duke University researchers compared the sleep habits of humans with hundreds of mammals, including primates, and found that humans sleep for significantly fewer hours than our closest relatives

Blame evolution for your lack of sleep. A team of Duke University researchers compared the sleep habits of humans with hundreds of mammals, including primates, and found that humans sleep for significantly fewer hours than our closest relatives

HUMANS SLEEP EFFICIENTLY
Early humans once slept in 'beds' in the trees, later moving down to the ground where they slept in larger groups around a fire. 

This kept them warm and safe, and likely enabled them to get the most restful sleep for the shortest possible time.

Shorter sleep made it possible to dedicate time to new skills, while the deeper sleep enhanced memory and brain function.

Now, humans get an average of seven hours sleep each night.

Chimpanzees, our closest animal relative, generally sleep around 11.5 hours a night, while other primates get up to 17. 

 When humans sleep, 25 percent of the time is spent in the REM dream state, and humans spend less time in the 'light stages,' making for a more efficient, restful sleep.

Duke anthropologists David Samson and Charlie Nunn, who authored the paper, combed through the literature on sleep habits of mammals and 21 species of primates according to Duke Today.

After creating a database for comparison, the researchers used statistical techniques to plot the different species on the primate family tree, including baboons, lemurs, orangutans, chimpanzees, and people.

Chimpanzees, our closest animal relative, generally sleep around 11.5 hours a night.

Some primates, like the southern pig-tailed macaque or the gray mouse lemur, need as many as 14 to 17 hours of sleep, while humans generally get an average of seven each night. 

'Humans are unique in having shorter, higher quality sleep,' said Samson.

The researcher previously spent almost 2,000 hours studying the rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep stages of orangutans.

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When humans sleep, 25 percent of the time is spent in the REM dream state. For many primates, REM sleep makes up barely five percent.

Humans spend less time in the 'light stages,' making for a more efficient, restful sleep.

Chimpanzees, our closest animal relative, generally sleep around 11.5 hours a night. Some primates, like the southern pig-tailed macaque or the gray mouse lemur, need as many as 14 to 17 hours of sleep, while humans generally get an average of seven each night

Chimpanzees, our closest animal relative, generally sleep around 11.5 hours a night. Some primates, like the southern pig-tailed macaque or the gray mouse lemur, need as many as 14 to 17 hours of sleep, while humans generally get an average of seven each night

It may seem that the obvious reason for this would be the integration of artificial light, but the researchers say humans shortened their sleep patterns long before the glare of lamps and tablet screens.

In a separate study, researchers found that people in three hunter-gatherer societies in Tanzania, Namibia, and Bolivia got even less sleep than people who have access to electronics, suggesting that the role of artificial light is not the only factor in determining the sleep length of modern humans.

Early humans once slept in 'beds' in the trees, later moving down to the ground where they slept in larger groups around a fire. 

This kept them warm and safe from large predators, including hyenas and leopards, and likely enabled them to get the most restful sleep for the shortest possible time.

As humans grew to be more skilled, shorter sleep made it possible to dedicate time to these advancements, while the deeper sleep enhanced memory and brain function. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3359953/Humans-evolved-supersleepers-Researchers-better-sleep-time-nearest-relatives.html