Summary of the Podcast

The podcast Hidden Brain tells a story of Randy Gardner. Gardner used to experience
insomnia and in the wee hours of the morning would step out of his yard and listen to cars
whizzing. Insomnia is a deep state of helplessness that people experience. Randy is retired and
together with his wife focus on hobbies and their cat George. Randy moved to San Diego when
he was aged seventeen. He hails from a military family and is the oldest son. As a young boy,
Randy had a lot of interest in science. When he moved into San Diego, he had the same dream of
venturing into science. Randy thought of making his mark on the science field by challenging the
sleep record existing. Sleep deprivation was common in the 1960s with many DJs participating
in the challenge. Randy believed that one does not need a lot of sleep. In the 1960s there was a
common belief that one does not need a lot of sleep.
Randy decided to go for 11 days without sleep. Randy had not thought about the adverse
effects of going without sleep. He thought that the challenge was not difficult and that he would
eventually emerge victoriously and his wellbeing would not be affected. Randy recruited two of
his friends, namely Bruce McAllister and Joe Marciano. Randy and his friends decided to start
the challenge around Christmas. However, on day three, he felt sickly. He felt increasingly
nauseated. He decided to eat citrus because it helped alleviate nausea. Randy’s friends took
turns, and one would stay with him while he was awake. The challenge would soon attract the
attention of the media. The media was an advantage because it helped Randy remain awake.
Around day four, Randy started feeling like his mental facilities were slipping. Randy
decided to visit the jail in the wee hours of the morning in an attempt to remain awake when
everything was silent. A sleep researcher from Stanford was also attracted by Randy’s
experiment, and he rented a convertible car so that they would have fun. Randy did not have any

physical problems. He would function normally and would have no problem walking. However,
the longer he stayed awake, the more irritable he became. After completing the challenge, he
slept for fourteen hours. In the coming days, he did not feel the urge to get extra sleep. His
challenge earned him a place in the Annual Greater San Diego Science fair. Randy had become
famous and later engaged in various activities ranging from photography to horticulture.
Many people have tried to go for hours without sleeping. However, many find the
challenge to be impossible. Some share the problems of going without sleep and describe the
feeling to be deeply upsetting. Mathew Walker states that there are health consequences of going
without sleep. When one goes without sleep, they increase their chances of getting heart attacks.
One does not need to go for eleven days without sleep to notice the adverse health effects. The
brain does not have the ability to recover the sleep lost. It is important for every person to get
eight hours of sleep every day. Sleep is important, and this means that everyone has to try their
level best to get sufficient sleep.

Journal Article

The article, The New Science of Sleep explores the different ways that sleep patterns have
been affected by modern schedules, technology tax, and stress, and it suggests ways of
improving a person’s sleep quality. First, the article provides some basics about sleep.
Neurologist Christopher Winter says that a person should take ten to twenty minutes before
falling asleep. He demystifies the notion that a person who sleeps immediately after getting to
bed is a good sleeper. Also, adults require a minimum of seven and a maximum of nine hours of
sleep every night for them to function optimally both mentally and physically. It is advisable that
one avoids screens at least one hour before nodding off. It is usually problematic for a person to
sleep off while watching television as the light from the screen can go through the eyelids, and
the brain interprets it to mean that one is still exposed to light.
Illness and stress are some of the factors that exacerbated sleep difficulties. It is important
to control the amount of both natural and artificial light in the bedroom. A good mattress is also
key to a good night’s sleep. Weighted blankets also help sometime get quality sleep. Sleeping for
less than four hours over an extended period of time can lead to acute insomnia. It is important to
address the problem before the issue gets out of hand. The article points out that sleep varies
depending on a person’s age. For instance, while a two-year-old child needs up to fourteen hours
of sleep, a twenty-five years adult is good with eight hours of sleep.
Adequate sleep is crucial for a child’s brain development. The article reveals surprising
facts about the relationship between sleep and addiction to drugs. Teenagers who sleep for less
than six hours are twice as probable to abuse drugs such as marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol.
They are also three times likely to commit suicide. A teenager’s brain is developing, and sleep is

important for this stage. Also, a sick person needs more sleep because the body needs time o
regenerate what the illness damaged. Sleep issues are mostly treatable, and suffering individuals
should seek treatment.
The article discourages against attempts made to interpret dreams. Dreams do not exist so
that they can be interpreted; neither do they reveal any hidden truths. On the contrary, dreams
help the dreamer to consolidate memories and regulate moods. Although dreams have a purpose,
they should not be chased. One can try remembering them in the morning by relaxing in bed
after waking up. It is not always hard to recall dreams. Acute insomnia helps in forgetting
dreams. There are solutions to acute insomnia. Rather than sleeping in, napping or going to bed
earlier, it is advisable to let the sleep pressure go up. A person experiencing insomnia should
delay going to bed to sync their sleep ability and opportunity.
Overall, the article asserts that sleep gives people rest, and rested people are more
productive. Taking a nap in between a busy schedule helps reduce mistakes and enhances
efficiency. In modern corporate America, companies are giving employees post-lunch napping
opportunity as resting enhancing efficiency and productivity. A nap should, however, be light to
avoid sleep inertia. Besides, a proper nap is beneficial in that it has immune and stress-releasing
effects. It is also an effective way of recovering from lost sleep.