Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Do but consider what an excellent thing sleep is; it is soinestimable a jewel that, if a tyrant would give his crownfor an hour’s slumber, it cannot be bought; of sobeautiful a shape is it, that though a man lie with anEmpress, his heart cannot beat quiet till he leaves herembracements to be at rest with the other: yea, sogreatly indebted are we to this kinsman of death, that weowe the better tributary, half of our life to him: andthere is good cause why we should do so: for sleep is thatgolden chain that ties health and our bodies together.—Thomas Dekker (The Gull’s Hornbook, 1609)Circadian rhythms are endogenously generated rhythms thatapproximate the length of a day and a night. They are foundin most organisms whose life span is counted in days orgreater units, rather than hours.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Schantz et al. (2003) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: