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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.