Summary
Highlights
Sleeping is as crucial as eating and drinking for survival, providing rest for the body and recharging the brain for the next day.
After six hours of no sleep, tiredness and crankiness set in due to cortisol production. However, after 24 hours, a sudden burst of energy and motivation can occur from dopamine release before exhaustion ultimately takes over.
After 36 hours, memory weakens and reaction time decreases as the brain conserves energy. By 48 hours, the body starts to shut down vital functions, leading to extreme fatigue due to improper glucose metabolism and a weakened immune system.
After 72 hours, hallucination, loss of time perception, and forgetting basic functions can occur due to lack of essential chemicals in the brain. Studies show that 14 days without sleep can be fatal.
A 17-year-old student, Randy Gardner, holds the record for staying awake for 264 hours (11 days) to beat a previous record, a feat that is strongly advised against trying at home.