What is the least amount of sleep one can get

[the Princess]

and not hallucinate???????? (don't ask why) LOL

[underpants]

1. The Army says 4 hours

I think that is about right, not for hallucination but to function properly.

[achtung_circus]

5. Ask yvr girl

she's getting by on short rations currently.

[amazona]

2. it completely depends on the individual

I read a book by a neurologist and he said it is completely individual and can't be changed. Some people can get by on as little as 3-4 hours a night indefinitely and can go days at a time without sleep in an emergency. He found some unfortunate people who needed as much as 17 hours sleep a night and therefore couldn't go very long at all without symptoms of sleeplessness. He studied a woman in medical school (!) who needed 14 hours of sleep a night and who therefore was always tired, no getting around it, because her schedule could not allow for her to get sufficient sleep for her physiology.

I wouldn't expect major hallucinations unless drugs are involved but if you're seeing waviness or maybe some small manifestations, take a hint and lay down.

I lost the book or I'd give you the cite. Maybe the name will come to me later.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[sui generis]

3. it depends what you were doing to stay awake that long . . .

really.

Stimulant or hallucinogen withdrawal can make you pretty loopy for a day or two even when you have adequate sleep afterwards . . .

Just being up au natural though, you should be okay with a catnap, good nutrition and adequate rest the following evening. I would probably still avoid driving though.

[Javaman]

4. I think 3 1/2 hours but I'm no sleepologist...

I do know that you have to have a certain period of time during sleep that you experience REM. Sleep deprivation occurs when REM is interrupted, neglected or deprived.
Deprivation of REM is a form of torture. I know that much.

[Wapsie B]

6. The amount of sleep needed depends on the individual.

But the average is 6-8 hours/night. Sleep deprivation is when REM and NREM sleep is shortened, even by 20-30 minutes a night. Meaning if you need 8 hours sleep and you only sleep 7.5 you're shorting yourself 30 minutes a night. That deficit builds up and makes you tired.

REM sleep is thought to rejeuvanate the nervous system in the body, so a lack of it could contribute to hallucinations if the deprivation was severe enough over a period of time. That would again vary from person to person.

But I'm not a doctor although I have a friend who plays one on TV.

BWA, RPSGT

[the Princess]

7. Hey baby!!

How ya been????

[Wapsie B]

8. Hi my Princess!

I've been fine. How's about you?

:hi:

[the Princess]

9. Oh pretty good

'cept for lack of sleep and all. LOL

Look for me on you know where sometime. :)

[Wapsie B]

10. You should talk to your Dr, about it.

Even Trazodone may help. Unlike Ambien or Sonata, Trazodone can be taken more often.

I'll look for you. I'm off to do my power walk in a little bit.
Talk to you soon.

[chenGOD]

11. you don't start to hallucinate until the 3rd day...

at least in my experience.

I've stayed awake before for periods up to 6 days. By the 3rd day you start to hallucinate mildly, buzzing sounds, walls breathing.
This of course assumes that you are staying awake with no stimulants/hallucinogenic drugs.

Otherwise the sleep/ability to function normally ratio varies per individual.

I generally get/need about 4-5 hours a night. Other people I know need to get 9 hours a night.