C1 Advanced (CAE) - Reading Multiple Choice 2

The History of Sleep: A Tale of Two Shifts

For decades, the eight-hour continuous sleep pattern has been considered the natural human way of resting. However, historical evidence suggests our current sleep habits are largely a product of industrialisation rather than our natural biological rhythm. Research into pre-industrial documents, diaries and literature has revealed that humans previously experienced sleep quite differently, challenging our assumptions about what constitutes 'normal' sleep patterns.

Historical records from across Europe show that before the 18th century, most people practised what historians now call 'biphasic sleep'. They would go to bed shortly after dusk for their 'first sleep', wake for one to two hours around midnight, and then have their 'second sleep' until dawn. This intervening period of wakefulness was not seen as insomnia or a sleep disorder, but rather as a natural and valued part of the night. People would use this time for various activities: reading, writing, praying, or visiting neighbours. Medical texts from the era even suggested this was the best time for conception, as people were more relaxed and refreshed.

The shift towards our modern sleep pattern began with the advent of street lighting and continued through the Industrial Revolution. As artificial lighting became more common, people began staying up later, and the demands of factory schedules forced workers to compress their sleep into a single period. By the 1920s, the practice of biphasic sleep had largely disappeared from public consciousness, and references to 'first' and 'second' sleep became increasingly rare in literature and medical texts.
Contemporary sleep scientists have found evidence supporting the naturalness of the biphasic sleep pattern. When research subjects are deprived of artificial light, they often fall into a split sleep schedule remarkably similar to the historical pattern. This suggests our bodies might naturally prefer this rhythm. However, modern society, with its rigid work schedules and constant exposure to artificial light, makes returning to such patterns impractical for most people.

The implications of this historical insight extend beyond mere curiosity. Sleep researchers are now investigating whether some modern sleep problems might result from forcing ourselves to sleep in a pattern that conflicts with our natural rhythms. Some sleep specialists suggest that people experiencing middle-of-the-night waking shouldn't automatically consider it a disorder, as it might reflect an older, natural pattern. However, they acknowledge that adapting modern life to accommodate split sleep would require significant social and economic changes.
This historical perspective has also influenced discussions about optimal sleep patterns in different cultures and contexts. While the eight-hour block remains standard in most industrialised nations, some countries maintain different cultural practices, such as the siesta tradition. Contemporary research suggests that these alternative patterns might offer significant benefits for both physical and mental well-being.

Recent studies conducted across multiple sleep laboratories have shown that enforcing a single, standardised sleep pattern may contribute to various modern health issues, including increased stress levels and decreased cognitive performance. Scientists have observed that individuals who naturally wake during the night often experience more vivid dreams and better memory consolidation when they don't force themselves back to sleep immediately. This has led to growing interest in personalised sleep recommendations that take into account individual circadian rhythms and lifestyle factors.
The recognition that our current sleep patterns might not be optimal has sparked a broader debate about work schedules and social organisation. Some progressive companies are experimenting with flexible working hours that better accommodate natural sleep patterns, while certain educational institutions are considering later start times based on research into adolescent sleep rhythms. While it's unlikely that society will return entirely to historical sleep patterns, understanding our natural tendencies could lead to more adaptable and healthy approaches to rest in the future.