In 1964, Randy Gardner, a 17-year-old high school student from California, set a record that still stands today — staying awake for 11 days and 25 minutes, or 264.4 hours.His experiment, originally part of a school science project, drew the attention of sleep researchers including Dr. William Dement from Stanford University.
As the days passed, Gardner experienced mood swings, hallucinations, and memory lapses, revealing the severe toll of sleep deprivation.
Despite these effects, he recovered fully after finally sleeping for 14 hours straight.
This remarkable yet cautionary record remains unmatched and unbroken, as future attempts have been discouraged by health experts.
Source: The Brain Maze
