Superhuman or super sleepy: Short sleepers function on four hours (CNN) {gene}

[eppur_se_muova]

By Madison Park, CNN
March 12, 2011 12:21 a.m. EST

(CNN) -- For most of us, setting the clock forward in the spring is a sad occasion, a sign that we're losing an hour of sleep.

Daylight saving time begins Sunday at 2 a.m. in most of the U.S. -- except for Hawaii and Arizona.

But for some genetically blessed people, a loss of one hour of sleep is not a problem. In fact, sleeping fewer than the recommended seven or eight hours is the norm. They naturally feel refreshed and ready to go -- at 4 a.m.

These "short sleepers" have a mutation on a gene known as hDEC2, that regulates their sleep-wake cycle. This mutation allows them to function on less sleep, researchers say.

There have been purported short sleepers such as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, actor James Franco and domestic personality Martha Stewart. Whether they've been able to stave off sleep through genetics or willpower is unknown.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/12/short.sleepers.daylight/index.html?hpt=Sbin#

[northoftheborder]

1. I remember Pres. Clinton only sleeps 4 or 5 hours - always stayed up late reading

[The Philosopher]

2. Well, that explains it.

While I often try--and I stress often--to sleep 8 hours, I tend to sleep less than that and feel fine. Mircea Eliade wrote in his autobiography that he trained himself to sleep only 2 hours, so he could work more.

It's nice to know I have an extra 3-4 hours advantage on humanity to conquer the world. Too bad I use that time napping.

[hunter]

3. That's my wife. She can sleep 4 or 5 hours night after night.

If I don't get eight hours I get really, really cranky.