Brain Modification/ "Sleepless" soldier

Okay, I may be an idiot for believing most stuff that I read and/or see, but the other night I was watching the X-files (yes I know), and I saw something quite interesting. Modifying a soldiers brain in order to make them not sleep, and extremely agressive and alert. Does anyone other than myself actually think thatr this is possible or it can be done...I am all for it as I do think that sleep is so over rated, and just another way for the man to control us "you need at least eight hours of sleep per night in order to function throughout the following day," yea thats complets B. S. Lately I have been sleeping maybe 2-2.5 hours of sleep per night for the last few weeks, and I am completely functioning fine.

During WWII the Nazi's brewed up a drug we now call Crystal Meth.... It made the soldiers able to stay up for days and it also made them act like animals (killing at will)....

-psd_1

..your body needs to rest. Yes, you might think that you are fine with 2-2.5 hours of sleep, but if you really were looking you'd realize your memory is drastically affected and you're probably much more tired than when you get a full nights sleep.

Noone is trying to control you. That's just how your body is.

Would it make sense for pharmacuticals companys to make the same chemical that the brain produces in the body to make you feel refreshed and rested? I wasnt really refering to methanphedamine, I was refering to whatever chemical compound it is that causes the body to become tired; I forgot where I saw it before, but the brain sends out some chemical out into the body and it tells it that it's tired and needs sleep, would it possible to remove this portion of the brain and then feed the body a chemical that tells it that it is constantly refreshed, the same make-up as the chemical the brain produces.

Originally posted by psd_1
During WWII the Nazi's brewed up a drug we now call Crystal Meth.... It made the soldiers able to stay up for days and it also made them act like animals (killing at will)....

-psd_1

[Edited on 4/25/2004 by rebl00ded]

There is no magic chemical that makes your body feel refreshed. Feelign sleepy is like itching- it's your body telling you something is wrong. Your brain requires sleep to process memory and let your muscles rejuvenate, as movement causes wear and tear.

DE

If you excercise regularly or especially lift weights/build muscle you will find out how important the sleep cycle is for your body's physical recovery. Any athlete will tell you that sleep is not overrated one bit. As someone who's been physically active since five years old, and continues to compete at a national level of athleticism, I cannot say for sure whether this sleep is necessary for those who do not work out regularly or intensely. I do know I feel unhealthy and weak without adequate sleep.


Aside from that, sleeping is extremely important for memory and alertness. There are studies that have shown this to be the case, but alas I am too tired to dig them up.

There is a chemical in your brain which builds up and makes you feel awake. As the level deteriotes you feel sleepy. There was an episode all about it on BBC's Horizon programme. They are syntheising it as a cure for Narcolepsly and the US Military is interested in using it for night pilots (who currently have to take a variant of Speed in order to stay away but it makes them jumpy, hence missfires).

But yes the body needs rest and so i continual dose of this synthicide would probably end up killing you.