16 Ways Sleep Deprivation Affects Your Mind (P)

In January 1964, American teenager Randy Gardner set what was then the record for the longest scientifically documented period of intentional sleep deprivation.

Without the aid of stimulants, he managed to stay awake for 264.4 hours, or 11 days and 24 minutes.

Part of his motivation was to show that the symptoms of sleep deprivation were not as severe as people thought.

He was wrong: he experienced paranoia, hallucinations, mood swings and a range of psychological problems, many of which are described below.

But he didn’t notice many of these problems himself -- which is part of how sleep deprivation catches people out.

Here are 16 of the most striking ways a lack of sleep affects the mind and brain.