On Tue, 26 Mar 2002, Jeff Ricker wrote: > http://www.scientificamerican.com/askexpert/biology/biology60/ > > How long can humans stay awake? > > The easy experimental answer to this question is 264 hours (about 11 > days).
Nice timing, Rick. In less than a hour I'm going to discuss this topic in class. But if you're willing to accept a possibly lower standard of evidence, I have a better candidate. It's Mrs. Maureen Weston of Peterborough, England. She was reported to have stayed awake almost 19 days in a rocking-chair marathon in 1977. Who sez? The Guinness Book of Records, who have a reputation for checking out claims carefully. However, I didn't jot down which edition I got this from, only that it was some time ago. I believe the Book no longer accepts such records because it doesn't want to encourage potentially harmful behaviour. BTW, not even the Randy Gardner case (the 264 hr one referred to above) is airtight. He only received professional supervision after 150 hrs of deprivation had already taken place. -Stephen ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470 Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661 Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy Check out TIPS listserv for teachers of psychology at: http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/southerly/tips/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
