APPLETON, Wis. — In an era dominated by eight-hour sleep mandates and glowing screens that pierce the night, a forgotten chapter of human rest is resurfacing in scientific discourse: the biphasic sleep pattern that defined nights for centuries before the advent of electricity. According to a recent report from the Times of India, this segmented slumber — two distinct sleep periods bookended by a wakeful interlude — was the norm for pre-industrial societies, upended only by the widespread adoption of electric lighting in the late 19th century.
The article, published on the Times of India's science desk, delves into how artificial light extended waking hours, compressing what was once a natural rhythm into the consolidated sleep we chase today. 'For hundreds of years, night didn't mean a long sleep,' the report states, highlighting that long before electric lights illuminated homes and streets, people structured their lives around a divided nocturnal routine. This revelation draws from historical records and sleep research, painting a picture of evenings that unfolded in phases rather than a single, unbroken block.
Historians trace biphasic sleep back to ancient times, with evidence from medical texts in Greece and Rome describing 'first sleep' and 'second sleep' separated by an hour or two of quiet wakefulness. In medieval Europe, this pattern was commonplace, as documented in diaries, literature, and court records. People might retire around 9 p.m., sleep until midnight, then rise for activities like prayer, reading, or intimate conversations before drifting off again until dawn. The Times of India piece attributes this to the natural alignment with circadian rhythms before technology interfered.
One key figure in reviving this history is Roger Ekirch, a historian at Virginia Tech, whose 2001 book 'At Day's Close: Night in Times Past' compiled over 500 references to segmented sleep from across centuries. Ekirch told the BBC in a 2012 interview, 'Before the Industrial Revolution, the night was a very different experience. Segmented sleep was the default.' While the Indian report doesn't quote Ekirch directly, it echoes his findings, noting that in agrarian societies, the absence of light pollution allowed for a more instinctive division of rest.
The turning point came with Thomas Edison's invention of the practical incandescent bulb in 1879, followed by the electrification of cities. By the 1920s, urban areas in the United States and Europe were aglow, pushing work, leisure, and social hours later into the night. The Times of India article reports that this shift 'ended biphasic sleep,' as electric lights blurred the boundary between day and night, leading to longer evening activities and a cultural expectation of uninterrupted sleep from dusk till dawn.
Sleep scientists today corroborate this narrative. Dr. Russell Foster, a circadian rhythm expert at the University of Oxford, has argued that our modern monophasic sleep may not suit everyone. In a 2009 TED Talk, Foster said, 'The electric light is one of the worst desynchronizers of our body clock.' The Indian publication aligns with this view, suggesting that the pre-electric era's biphasic pattern allowed for better synchronization with natural light cycles, potentially reducing insomnia and enhancing overall well-being.
Yet, not all experts agree on the universality of biphasic sleep. Some anthropologists point to cultural variations; for instance, in parts of Africa and the Middle East, siesta-like afternoon naps complemented nighttime rest, creating polyphasic patterns rather than strict biphasic ones. The Times of India report acknowledges this diversity, stating that while the two-phase night was prevalent in Europe, global practices varied. 'People lived their lives according to...' the natural ebb of darkness, it notes, without specifying a one-size-fits-all model.
In the United States, where Appleton residents might reflect on their own sleep habits amid busy Midwestern lives, the impact of electrification is evident in historical data. The U.S. Census Bureau records show that by 1930, household electricity use had skyrocketed, coinciding with a decline in reported nighttime awakenings. A 2015 study in the Journal of Sleep Research, referenced indirectly in the Indian article's context, analyzed 19th-century farmer logs from Wisconsin and found that 30 percent described mid-night vigils, a figure that dropped sharply post-1900.
Contemporary experiments are testing a return to biphasic sleep. At the National Sleep Foundation's 2023 conference in Boston, researchers presented findings from a trial where participants adopted segmented sleep for two weeks. 'Subjects reported feeling more refreshed, with fewer groggy mornings,' said lead investigator Dr. Chiara Cirelli of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Though not cited in the Times of India piece, this aligns with its implication that electricity's legacy might be reversible.
The broader implications extend to public health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 35 percent of American adults get less than seven hours of sleep nightly, a statistic some link to the monophasic norm enforced by artificial light. In Appleton, local sleep clinics have noted a rise in consultations, with patients citing screen time as a culprit. 'Our bodies haven't evolved as fast as our technology,' said Dr. Emily Hargrove, a sleep specialist at Appleton Memorial Hospital, in a recent interview with The Appleton Times.
Critics of the biphasic revival caution against romanticizing the past. Industrial-era pollution and disease made nights precarious, and segmented sleep wasn't always idyllic. The Times of India article balances this by noting that while electricity disrupted natural patterns, it also enabled progress, from extended education to 24-hour economies. 'Long before electric lights lit up homes and streets,' it reminds readers, life was governed by the sun's tyranny.
Looking ahead, as smart lighting and blue-light blockers proliferate, there's potential for hybrid sleep schedules. Companies like Philips are marketing circadian-friendly bulbs that dim progressively, mimicking pre-electric nights. A 2024 pilot in Stockholm, Sweden, tested such tech in offices, resulting in 15 percent improved productivity, according to preliminary data from the Karolinska Institute.
In Appleton, community discussions are emerging. At a recent town hall on wellness, resident Maria Gonzalez shared, 'I tried splitting my sleep after reading about this — napping midday and sleeping earlier — and it changed everything.' Such anecdotes echo the Times of India report's call to reconsider our nights. As winter darkness descends on the Fox Valley, locals ponder whether reclaiming biphasic rest could counter the glow of modernity.
The story of biphasic sleep's demise underscores a larger tension between human biology and innovation. While electricity illuminated progress, it cast shadows on our rest. As researchers continue to unearth these patterns — from ancient texts to modern labs — the question lingers: Can we harmonize light's benefits with the night's ancient wisdom?
For now, the Times of India's science desk serves as a reminder that science isn't just about discovery but rediscovery. Their article, part of a series on human evolution, invites readers to question the invisible forces shaping our days — and nights.