Unutterably Silly How many hours of sleep?

[Sparrow]

I often think it's a shame we don't hibernate.

But, if we did, I'd like to know if Antipodeans of European descent would hibernate through their summer, or would they just adjust to winter in the southern hemisphere?

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I often think it's a shame we don't hibernate.

But, if we did, I'd like to know if Antipodeans of European descent would hibernate through their summer, or would they just adjust to winter in the southern hemisphere?

i'm in favor of hibernation too. as to your question, i imagine the hibernation instinct would be triggered by some environmental factors, so i think the antipodeans of european descent would probably adjust. i mean, after all, what's the point of hibernating through summer ?? i bet the first year would be hard though.

[pshrynk]

Actually, there might some problems. Opposum, otherwise known as ugly rats, were initially East coast denizens. And nocturnal. As the expansion went west, for some reason opossums went with it. now we have opposums in California. However, they have never adjusted their clocks and are late afternoon scavengers, rather than nocturnal.

There is a hybernation instinct in humans, also. In people of Scandanavian and Irish descent the incidence of Seasonal Affective Disorder is much higher than that in African ancestry people. The symptoms are sluggishness, irritability, and need for increased sleep. When the lights go out up north, we want to sleep more.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

There is a hybernation instinct in humans, also. In people of Scandanavian and Irish descent the incidence of Seasonal Affective Disorder is much higher than that in African ancestry people. The symptoms are sluggishness, irritability, and need for increased sleep. When the lights go out up north, we want to sleep more.

yes, but the trouble is, nobody will let us.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

There is a hybernation instinct in humans, also. In people of Scandanavian and Irish descent the incidence of Seasonal Affective Disorder is much higher than that in African ancestry people. The symptoms are sluggishness, irritability, and need for increased sleep. When the lights go out up north, we want to sleep more.

Do we know how Antipodeans of European decent are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder? Is there a lower incidence because their bodies think the winters have become sunnier?
(I once worked with someone who had SAD, and he had a lightbox to simulate sunshine.)

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Do we know how Antipodeans of European decent are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder? Is there a lower incidence because their bodies think the winters have become sunnier?
(I once worked with someone who had SAD, and he had a lightbox to simulate sunshine.)

and what about the indecent antipodeans ? (sorry, the Pendant made me do it. )

i wish i had a lightbox.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

and what about the indecent antipodeans ? (sorry, the Pendant made me do it. )

Curses - I'd have got away with it but for you and your pendant of pedantry :shakesfist:.
And to think I spelled all the long words correctly - ' antipodean ' that was a tricky one.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Curses - I'd have got away with it but for you and your pendant of pedantry :shakesfist:.
And to think I spelled all the long words correctly - ' antipodean ' that was a tricky one.

i know, but that's what makes it so much funnier !

(i think you're supposed to shout "foiled again !" here. )

[DixieGal]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

You got that right! Where's the medical solution for replacing 8 hours of sleep with 1 hour plus some sort of simple treatment? What century is this???

Bad puppy! That's a horrible idea! I love to sleep and wouldn't be happy with only an hour. I just love to luxuriate in a long, deep sleep.

[QUOTE=Sparrow;332761]I often think it's a shame we don't hibernate.
QUOTE]

What a great idea! Puppy, take notes. This is good.

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Actually, there might some problems. Opposum, otherwise known as ugly rats, were initially East coast denizens. And nocturnal. As the expansion went west, for some reason opossums went with it. now we have opposums in California. However, they have never adjusted their clocks and are late afternoon scavengers, rather than nocturnal.

There is a hybernation instinct in humans, also. In people of Scandanavian and Irish descent the incidence of Seasonal Affective Disorder is much higher than that in African ancestry people. The symptoms are sluggishness, irritability, and need for increased sleep. When the lights go out up north, we want to sleep more.

I'm Scoth/Irish/Dutch. But I love sleep all year long, and also love midday naps, so maybe this needs re-thinking, since my love affair with sleep does not correlate with daylight. Except I have insulated blackout curtains in the bedroom, so it is nice and dark for those naps. Hmmm....

Now I'm sleepy and want a nap.

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Do we know how Antipodeans of European decent are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder? Is there a lower incidence because their bodies think the winters have become sunnier?
(I once worked with someone who had SAD, and he had a lightbox to simulate sunshine.)

That actually seems to be a function of the length of daylight, rather than latitude. So, maybe we aren't as marsupial as all that.

[Seabound]

Originally Posted by TadW

Just curious how many hours of sleep you get at night.

Sleep--what's that?

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Seabound

Sleep--what's that?

The period where you should have closed your eyes, but couldn't as the book you were reading was way too exciting to put away.


one more chapter!; ok, after this chapter, one more chapter...

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

The period where you should have closed your eyes, but couldn't as the book you were reading was way too exciting to put away.


one more chapter!; ok, after this chapter, one more chapter...

i have no idea what you mean by that. really, that *never* happens to me. i deny everything !!

[vivaldirules]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Bad puppy! That's a horrible idea! I love to sleep and wouldn't be happy with only an hour. I just love to luxuriate in a long, deep sleep.

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I often think it's a shame we don't hibernate.

Originally Posted by DixieGal

What a great idea! Puppy, take notes. This is good.

Yes, ma'am. I will learn to love sleep and admonish those who might reduce it in order to provide 7 more hours of sentient life every single day of my life. Okay, time for a nap!

[mtravellerh]

Lately I tend to take a nap in the early afternoon and sleep 5 hours or so in the night. But then again I work a lot of nightshifts so I am able to sleep whenever and wherever.