Snortable Drug 'Replaces' Sleep For Monkeys In Trials 236
sporkme writes "A DARPA-funded research project at UCLA has wrapped up a set of animal trials testing the effects of inhalation of the brain chemical orexin A, a deficiency of which is a characteristic of narcolepsy. Monkeys were deprived of sleep, and then given a shot of the compound. 'The study ... found orexin A not only restored monkeys' cognitive abilities but made their brains look "awake" in PET scans. Siegel said that orexin A is unique in that it only had an impact on sleepy monkeys, not alert ones, and that it is 'specific in reversing the effects of sleepiness' without other impacts on the brain.' Researchers seem cautious to bill the treatment as a replacement for sleep, as it is not clear that adjusting brain chemistry could have the same physical benefits of real sleep in the long run. The drug is aimed at replacing amphetamines used by drowsy long-haul military pilots, but there would no doubt be large demand for such a remedy thanks to its apparent lack of side-effects."
2 am post (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Replacement for sleep? (Score:5, Funny)
Will Smith said not to research crazy new drugs (Score:5, Funny)
Zombies.
Re:Pilots on meth? (Score:3, Funny)
Its just the military pilots. You know, the ones with nukes strapped to their plane.
Re:Speculation (Score:5, Funny)
Dear God! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:2 am post (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Speculation (Score:4, Funny)
*shudder* That's the sort of horror story that keeps me up at night...
Re:But can it *replace* sleep? (Score:1, Funny)
A drug that would make cocaine unnecessary?
Pass.
Re:But can it *replace* sleep? (Score:2, Funny)
You have a wife and kid... and get 9 hours of UNINTERRUPTED sleep?
Here I thought 3 hours of interrupted sleep was asking too much.