Al Herpin, the ''Man Who Never Slept''

Discussion in 'Human Science' started by GaiaGirl95, Jan 12, 2014.

  1. GaiaGirl95 Banned Banned

    Messages:
    115
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Herpin

    This claim is extraordinary, with doctors mentioning how they assessed him constantly for two weeks and ''he didn't sleep a wink''.

    Can a human being really go without sleep for such extended periods? Why do we ''require'' sleep?

    Other cases of people allegedly going decades without any sleep:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Kern
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_Ngoc

    Newspaper sources:

    ''Sleepless man still a puzzle''
    http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 64,4446554

    ''DOCTORS BAFFLED: MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS
    GOING 24 HOURS A DAY''
    http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/90101671

    ''Adelaide Doctor Thinks Man Could Go Without Sleep''
    http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/90101671

    ''Vietnam man handles three decades without sleep''
    http://web.archive.org/web/200805130618 ... wsid=12673
     
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  3. Trooper Secular Sanity Valued Senior Member

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  5. Read-Only Valued Senior Member

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    I'm a firm believer in the fact that a human cannot go for extended periods without sleep - so I cannot accept those reports as accurate.

    Consider this: in the case of Al Herpin, there is not a single person that can/could even verify his claim.
     
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  7. AndresKiani Registered Member

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    9
    Neurologically, without sleep our brain would not be able to receive its majority of nutrients that it gets when we are in sleep mode. Also, many of the brains processes that keep it running healthy occurring when we are in deep and shallow stages of sleep. I don't think this is even biologically possible.... But that is just my opinion.

    Not to mention though the rest of the human anatomy that needs sleep, which I'm not familiar enough with to elaborate on.
     
  8. Dinosaur Rational Skeptic Valued Senior Member

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    4,885
    It is interesting to note that sleep deprivation affects the mind adversely before it has as much effect on the rest of the body.

    I think it has been shown that interferring with REM sleep does as much (almost?) damage to the mind as complete sleep deprivation.
     
  9. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    It has happened before. Some people don't need to sleep and they suffer no ill effects.
     
  10. Read-Only Valued Senior Member

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    Interesting! Care to post some fairly recent links?
     
  11. Ruiy Registered Member

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    10
    I can not believe the story of Al Herpin. It seems highly suspect. However there are documented cases with more or less accuracy, and each of them is related to brain injuries invariably.


    sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-related-problems/insomnia-and-sleep
     
  12. exchemist Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    12,451
    Cobalt6 (now suspended) posted identical nonsense in the Skeptics Forum last October.

    This is very tedious: everything "GaiaGirl95 has posted here has been posted in other forums under the names Cobalt6 (suspended), SFseaserpent, LadyGaia (suspended) MarkgaB5 (suspended) and doubtless others.

    This person is a living cracked record and is either obsessive or just a troll.
     
  13. Dinosaur Rational Skeptic Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,885
    Since I do not consider myself to be an expert relating to this issue, I did not want to comment adversely on the Post about the man who went years without sleeping.

    I did wonder how such a story could be verified.

    I am glad to see some dissenting Posts.
     

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