Changes

{{TNT|tooshort}}An extreme [[Nap only|nap-only]] [[Template:Polyphasic Sleep Schedules|schedule]]<ref>[https://www.polyphasic.net/schedules/tesla/ polyphasic.net]. Retrieved 23-11-2020.</ref>, which contains four 20-minute [[naps]], scheduled equidistantly throughout the day.{{TNT|Tesla}}

{{TNT|tooshort}}An extreme [[Nap only|nap-only]] [[Template:Polyphasic Sleep Schedules|schedule]]<ref>[https://www.polyphasic.net/schedules/tesla/ polyphasic.net]. Retrieved 23-11-2020.</ref>, which contains four 20-minute [[naps]], scheduled equidistantly throughout the day.{{TNT|Tesla}}

== History ==

== Origin ==

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.  

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.  

– '''[https://web.archive.org/web/20090728033232/http://neurohack.tesser.org:80/ Sharif Olorin, 2009]'''</blockquote>

– '''[https://web.archive.org/web/20090728033232/http://neurohack.tesser.org:80/ Sharif Olorin, 2009]'''</blockquote>

== Mechanism & Adaptation ==

== Mechanism ==

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.  

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 90 m SWS and 90 m REM each day, it becomes '''impossible''' to retain these important numbers on Tesla.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

== Research ==

== Difficulty ==

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 20 m 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.  

Adaptation to Tesla is absolutely the most horrific experience for any average sleepers who would want to attempt it. There is no successful adaptation to Tesla known to the community to this date.

 

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 ~60 m 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).  

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.

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.  

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.  

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.  

 

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.

== Alternate Variants ==

== Alternate Variants ==

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.  

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.  

== Lifestyle Considerations ==

== Research ==

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 ~60 m 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).  

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 20 m 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.  

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.  

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.

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.  

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.  

 

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.

[[Category:Schedules]]

[[Category:Schedules]]

{{TNT|Polyphasic Sleep Schedules}}

{{TNT|Polyphasic Sleep Schedules}}