Difference between revisions of "Tesla"

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{{tooshort}}An extreme [[Nap only|nap-only]] [[Template:Polyphasic Sleep Schedules|schedule]], which contains four 20-minute [[naps]], scheduled equidistantly throughout the day.{{Tesla}}
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{{TNT|tooshort}}{{TNT|Tesla}}'''Tesla''', or '''Uberman 4''', is an extreme [[Nap only|nap-only]] [[Template:Polyphasic Sleep Schedules|schedule]]<ref name="sharif" />, which contains four 20-minute [[naps]], scheduled equidistantly throughout the day.
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== History ==
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== Origin ==
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Tesla is an extreme schedule designed by Sharif Olorin in 2009 that combines parts of Uberman and Dymaxion. It consists of '''four equidistant 20 minute naps''' (one nap every 6 hours) and no cores, allowing for a total of merely 1 hour and 20 minutes of sleep a day. It is therefore referred to as '''U4''' (Uberman with 4 naps) sometimes.  
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Tesla is an extreme schedule designed by forum user Sharif Olorin in 2009 that combines parts of [[Uberman]] and [[Dymaxion]]. It consists of four equidistant 20-minute naps (one nap every 6 hours) and no cores, allowing for a total of 1 hour and 20 minutes of sleep per day, the smallest amount for any recognised schedule. It can also be considered as a variant of Uberman, though with only 4 naps, hence it is also known as U4.
  
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While Nikola Tesla was documented to sleep less than most people at night, he did not actually follow this polyphasic pattern. It got named after him by the creator. Here is what Sharif Olorin had to say about the naming:<blockquote>''“A friend of mine has recently switched from Dymaxion to the pattern I’m following. Now that I know of more than one success story with this pattern, I thought I’d better name it.''
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Though [[wikipedia:Nikola_Tesla|Nikola Tesla]] was documented to sleep very little, he did not actually follow this schedule.
  
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''So I give you the Tesla pattern. Because a) Tesla’s awesome and b) Tesla’s one of the few people known to sleep almost as little as we polyphasers.”''
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{{quote|text=A friend of mine has recently switched from Dymaxion to the pattern I’m following. Now that I know of more than one success story with this pattern, I thought I’d better name it. So I give you the Tesla pattern. Because a) Tesla’s awesome and b) Tesla’s one of the few people known to sleep almost as little as we polyphasers.|sign=Sharif Olorin|source=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090728033232/http://neurohack.tesser.org:80/ Blog post (2009)]}}
  
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– '''[https://web.archive.org/web/20090728033232/http://neurohack.tesser.org:80/ Sharif Olorin, 2009]'''</blockquote>
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== Mechanism ==
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{{further|Nap only#Mechanism}}
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As with all other nap only schedules, all or most [[wikipedia:Rapid_eye_movement_sleep|REM]] and [[wikipedia:Slow-wave_sleep|SWS]] requirements must be gained from the naps. At only 1 hour and 20 minutes of total sleep, the compression needed to achieve an adaptation to this schedule is expected to be far more intense than even that of Uberman and Dymaxion.
  
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== Mechanism & Adaptation ==
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== Adaptation ==
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Like other nap only schedules, all REM and SWS requirements must be supported by the naps. The sheer intensity of SWS and REM pressures is also known to be far more outrageous than that on other nap only schedules, because Tesla is the schedule with the least amount of sleep in the entire polyphasic sleep regime. Given that an average human needs at least 90m SWS and 90m REM each day, it becomes '''impossible''' to retain these important numbers on Tesla.  
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Olorin and his friend only stayed adapted on Tesla for only for short period of time. Feeling of restfulness on nap-only schedules can be misleading due to intense swings between restfulness and extreme tiredness on these schedules. It is therefore unclear if they have truly been adapted to the schedule according to current standards.
  
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Ever since its creation, Tesla saw very few attempts, due to its '''unpopularity''' compared to that of Uberman and Dymaxion. Despite the rarity in adaptation attempts, Tesla was actually experimented on by certain sleep scientists and published in a sleep study. However, the schedule name (Tesla) was never used in this study.  
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Other than the [[cold turkey]] approach, it may be possible to gradually adapt to Tesla, after one has completed an adaptation to Uberman, by cutting out 2 naps and slightly rotate the remaining 4 naps. However, no one has succeeded with this gradual adaptation method either.  
  
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It is also worth noting that Olorin and his friend only stayed adapted on Tesla for a '''very short period of time'''. Feeling of restfulness on nap-only schedules can be misleading due to sudden changes between restfulness and extreme tiredness. The ability for REM sleep to enter the naps (and can give intensely vivid dreams) can create a strong illusion of the refreshing feel after that nap. It is possible that the both of them mistook the prolonged feeling of restfulness for adaptation while, in fact, they were still in the adaptation phase. A typical 20m nap at first will grant the avoidance of SWS wakes for some time, but on Tesla, the soul-crushing sleep pressure will quickly place SWS at the end of each nap, resulting in abhorrent wakes from them.  
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== Difficulty ==
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Tesla is considered to be the single most difficult schedule out of the listed ones. Other than Olorin and his friend's possible adaptation, there has been no documented success with this schedule. Attempting this schedule with the goal of adaptation is therefore not recommended, especially for beginners.  
  
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Oher than the cold turkey approach, it ''may'' be possible to gradually adapt to Tesla, after one has completed an adaptation to Uberman, by cutting out 2 naps and slightly rotate the remaining 4 naps. However, no one has succeeded with this gradual adaptation method either.  
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== Lifestyle Considerations ==
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{{further|Nap only#Lifestyle considerations, Dymaxion#Lifestyle considerations}}
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With only 4 naps, the scheduling viability of Tesla is the same as that of Dymaxion. However, with 20-minute naps instead of 30-minute ones, it may be marginally easier to fit in one's daily schehdules. However, as with Dymaxion, it is considered to be almost entirely inflexible, which may cause conflicts.
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It is also subjected to the same health concerns as other nap-only schedules, arguably more so due to its even lower total sleep. The lack of cores sleeps, coupled with the insufficient amount of total sleep, may result in an inability for the [[wikipedia:glymphatic system|glymphatic system]] to fully function, which may affect brain functions over time. The schedule is also expected to be unforgiving for even small mistakes after adapting, and may not be sustainable long term.
  
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== Variants ==
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Due to the lack of general success on this schedule, it is difficult to predict how/if modified versions would work. Possible variations of this schedule include non-equidistant scheduling of naps, slightly extending one or all the naps to ~25 minute, but none of these variations has seen any success.
 
== Research ==
 
== Research ==
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In this [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8500187/ study], Tesla schedule was used to evaluate experimenters' cognitive performance upon waking up from the naps (effects of '''sleep inertia''') and then such results were compared to sleepers who stayed awake during the entire study ('''64 hours'''). It was found out that a number of naps on Tesla did contain '''both SWS and REM sleep''', which reinforces the theoretical assumption that both of these vital sleep stages can be found in just 20m naps because of the insane levels of sleep deprivation. Initially, when adaptation first began, sleep onset of the naps averaged to be '''~3.8 minutes''', suggesting that an adaptation is required to facilitate napping habits as a cold turkey transition from monophasic sleep.
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In a 1993 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8500187/ study], 10 participants were put on the Tesla schedule to evaluate the effects of sleep inertia. Their cognitive performance after wake was compared to other 10 participant who stayed awake during the same 64 hours. They found that those taking naps during the 64-hour period fared worse in cognitive tests compared to those who stayed awake throughout, due to the severe sleep inertia that resulted from the naps.
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However, because the study did not last long enough, it is uncertain if this sleep onset values across the napping subjects would decrease drastically; even though this prediction is likely. Compared with other nap only schedules' experiences, it makes sense that an adapted sleeper would fall asleep within mere minutes, or even seconds on Tesla. If the adaptation is eventually possible, it would become clear that there is an equilibrium of REM-SWS ratio in each nap, and that each vital sleep stage can take over any nap (e.g, REM nap in the nap around midnight) similar to Uberman. It was also noted in the study that '''core body temperature''', while at <u>circadian trough</u> (lowest, which is near sunrise hours) made the morning nap especially nightmarish to wake from. This also points to the recommendation that napping at nighttime is not as favorable as having core sleep(s) due to the high likelihood for dominant SWS sleep portion.
 
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On the other hand, adaptation to Tesla is absolutely the most horrific experience for any average sleepers who would want to attempt it. From the same aforementioned study, the napping subjects quickly developed '''sleep aversion''', a phenomenon that is explained in the study as the fear of sleeping. This is because the level of sleep inertia skyrocketed and became unbearable for them, to the point that they found the upcoming naps "objectionable". Two of the subjects felt ill, four of them quit because of the ghastly sleep inertia, and then all the remaining subjects quit the study before it ended.
 
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== Alternate Variants ==
 
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Because not many adaptations to Tesla have been thoroughly logged, it is impossible to know how many Tesla versions could work, or if they are even possible at all. Non-equidistant scheduling of naps (e.g, 2 naps closer during night hours and 2 naps in the day have a bigger wake gap), slightly extending one or all the naps to ~25m remain largely hypothetical, if not outright impossible. Because Tesla has no core sleeps, it is highly questionable if a mere 20m nap could sustain wakefulness for a lot of hours when SWS pressure is not facilitated and can dominate any naps should it rise enough.
 
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=== Equidistant rotation ===
 
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[[File:Tesla 2.png|center|thumb|A Tesla variant with equidistant rotation of all naps]]
 
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This variant was used in the sleep study mentioned above, but even with equidistant scheduling, it resulted in brief failure in all normal, average subjects. An experienced nap-only sleeper who has adapted to other nap-only or highly-restrictive total sleep schedules may be able to adapt to a Tesla variant with equidistant setting, regardless of the hours being rotated.
 
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== Lifestyle Considerations ==
 
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A lot of health concerns (especially long term) are raised by skeptics and average sleepers about whether the Tesla "mythology" would even be possible. Because of the gigantic amount of sleep reduction, it may attract a lot of attempts. The first concern is the immediate red flag of the glymphatic system. Tesla has no core sleeps to sustain the continuity that the glymphatic system would usually operate (at least ~60m of uninterrupted SWS), so whether the brain would work efficiently enough to clear out all toxin wastes long-term puts Tesla in a very unfavorable spot. The consequences of the failing glymphatic system can easily accelerate the risks and formation of '''neurodegenerative diseases''' (e.g, Alzheimer's).  
 
  
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The second concern is whether the schedule is sustainable in the context of external factors. For example, one small drink, slightly walking faster than usual or breaking more sweats, or any other factors that can boost REM and SWS requirements (e.g, sickness, small injury) are likely to negatively affect the schedule.  
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The average 20-minute nap was found to contain about 6.5 minutes of SWS, and, for the naps containing REM, there was an average of 7.8 minutes of REM. It was also noted in the study that naps at circadian temperature minimum in the morning are particularly difficult to wake from. This suggests that REM sleep debt may play a role in sleep inertia.
  
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The third, but not last concern is if a radically restrictive sleep regime can result in a '''chaotic or dysfunctional hormone regulation'''. Stress induced during the adaptation process (if prolonged enough) is the most common way to build up the concentration of cortisol in the body, which in return reduces testosterone building, increased heart rate, and more risks for hypertension.  
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The study also suggested that staying on the Tesla schedule for a few days may be even more difficult than simply staying awake. Two out of the 15 subjects in the nap group felt ill, and four of them quit because of the ghastly sleep inertia, but all 10 subjects in the no-nap group remained for the full 64-hour period.  
  
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All in all, with all elements taken into consideration, only a very small amount of the human population who can thrive on very little sleep, can sustain Tesla long-term. Polyphasic sleepers with severe insomnia or who have adapted to at least one nap-only schedule are also viable candidates for Tesla. One promising point of Tesla is that there is a huge wake gap (5h40m) between each nap to allow for many activities and commitments to be fulfilled. This is an advantage that an adapted Tesla sleeper can prey on, but other than this advantage, Tesla does not appear to be a friendly adaptation, even for sleep mutants.
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== References ==
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{{reflist|refs=
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<ref name="sharif">{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728033232/http://neurohack.tesser.org:80/ |title=Neurohack |access-date=2020-11-23}}</ref>
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}}
  
 
[[Category:Schedules]]
 
[[Category:Schedules]]
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{{Polyphasic Sleep Schedules}}
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{{TNT|Polyphasic Sleep Schedules}}

Latest revision as of 05:41, 19 January 2021

This is an unadvisable schedule, as its total sleep time is considered to be below the bare minimum required for most people.
Tesla
Uberman 4
chart link

Total sleep1 hour 20 minutes
Proposed bySharif Olorin
DifficultyExtremely difficult
Specification4 20-minute naps equidistantly placed throughout the day

Tesla, or Uberman 4, is an extreme nap-only schedule[1], which contains four 20-minute naps, scheduled equidistantly throughout the day.

Origin

Tesla is an extreme schedule designed by forum user Sharif Olorin in 2009 that combines parts of Uberman and Dymaxion. It consists of four equidistant 20-minute naps (one nap every 6 hours) and no cores, allowing for a total of 1 hour and 20 minutes of sleep per day, the smallest amount for any recognised schedule. It can also be considered as a variant of Uberman, though with only 4 naps, hence it is also known as U4.

Though Nikola Tesla was documented to sleep very little, he did not actually follow this schedule.

A friend of mine has recently switched from Dymaxion to the pattern I’m following. Now that I know of more than one success story with this pattern, I thought I’d better name it. So I give you the Tesla pattern. Because a) Tesla’s awesome and b) Tesla’s one of the few people known to sleep almost as little as we polyphasers.

— Sharif Olorin, Blog post (2009)

Mechanism

Further information: Nap only § Mechanism

As with all other nap only schedules, all or most REM and SWS requirements must be gained from the naps. At only 1 hour and 20 minutes of total sleep, the compression needed to achieve an adaptation to this schedule is expected to be far more intense than even that of Uberman and Dymaxion.

Adaptation

Olorin and his friend only stayed adapted on Tesla for only for short period of time. Feeling of restfulness on nap-only schedules can be misleading due to intense swings between restfulness and extreme tiredness on these schedules. It is therefore unclear if they have truly been adapted to the schedule according to current standards.

Other than the cold turkey approach, it may be possible to gradually adapt to Tesla, after one has completed an adaptation to Uberman, by cutting out 2 naps and slightly rotate the remaining 4 naps. However, no one has succeeded with this gradual adaptation method either.

Difficulty

Tesla is considered to be the single most difficult schedule out of the listed ones. Other than Olorin and his friend's possible adaptation, there has been no documented success with this schedule. Attempting this schedule with the goal of adaptation is therefore not recommended, especially for beginners.

Lifestyle Considerations

Further information: Nap only § Lifestyle considerations, Dymaxion#Lifestyle considerations

With only 4 naps, the scheduling viability of Tesla is the same as that of Dymaxion. However, with 20-minute naps instead of 30-minute ones, it may be marginally easier to fit in one's daily schehdules. However, as with Dymaxion, it is considered to be almost entirely inflexible, which may cause conflicts.

It is also subjected to the same health concerns as other nap-only schedules, arguably more so due to its even lower total sleep. The lack of cores sleeps, coupled with the insufficient amount of total sleep, may result in an inability for the glymphatic system to fully function, which may affect brain functions over time. The schedule is also expected to be unforgiving for even small mistakes after adapting, and may not be sustainable long term.

Variants

Due to the lack of general success on this schedule, it is difficult to predict how/if modified versions would work. Possible variations of this schedule include non-equidistant scheduling of naps, slightly extending one or all the naps to ~25 minute, but none of these variations has seen any success.

Research

In a 1993 study, 10 participants were put on the Tesla schedule to evaluate the effects of sleep inertia. Their cognitive performance after wake was compared to other 10 participant who stayed awake during the same 64 hours. They found that those taking naps during the 64-hour period fared worse in cognitive tests compared to those who stayed awake throughout, due to the severe sleep inertia that resulted from the naps.

The average 20-minute nap was found to contain about 6.5 minutes of SWS, and, for the naps containing REM, there was an average of 7.8 minutes of REM. It was also noted in the study that naps at circadian temperature minimum in the morning are particularly difficult to wake from. This suggests that REM sleep debt may play a role in sleep inertia.

The study also suggested that staying on the Tesla schedule for a few days may be even more difficult than simply staying awake. Two out of the 15 subjects in the nap group felt ill, and four of them quit because of the ghastly sleep inertia, but all 10 subjects in the no-nap group remained for the full 64-hour period.

References

  1. ↑ "Neurohack". Retrieved 2020-11-23.


Biphasic
Everyman
Dual core
Tri core
Nap only
Experimental
Non-polyphasic
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