h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Let's not overlook the utility of sleep deprivation as a torture device. Oh, sure there are nasty, more painful ways to torture someone if inflicting pain is your aim. But if you're after information, that lack of sleep inhibits one's higher brain functions and eventually most will break and spill the beans. One's ability to lie, be evasive, or even just keep his trap shut under duress all but disappears along with one's judgment.*

Then there's the "honorable" captain who is up before his troops and doesn't hit the hay until they themselves are bedded down. Here's a tip to anyone who has a boss. The U.S. Army did a study (yes it's been peer-reviewed) that demonstrates the infantryman can still hit a target with little sleep, but their boss (capt., lt., etc.) calling the shots and deciding for them which hill to take had better get some z's. His judgment is affected and your life may depend upon it!

*Neither I nor h2g2, nor any of its members or affiliates I'm sure, actually endorse torture in any form of course, with the possible exception of weeding through all the mindless bunk on h2g2 to get to the good stuff, of which there is plenty if you're willing to spend the time.

I've found, as a high school student, that my teachers seem able to get into my head and convince me of things much more easily when I am sleep-deprived.

Has anyone noticed anything similiar? Do any medical people on here know of anything that would relate to this?

Being that sleepy is sometimes conducive to learning, as it is a mildly hypnotic state. In one school that I attended many years ago, our Science Teacher used a Technique she called 'Superlearning', Where she would have us lay our heads down on the desks and read to us, with classical music playing lightly in the background, while varying the pitch and tone of her voice constantly. The results were astounding, everyones retention levels skyrocketed..
hehe, I still remember things I learned in this class, and it's been over 15 years..

Draugr

Maybe that's why I had to get up at 5:30 in the morning for four years to get out of high school... they did that on purpose. Stupid school board.