By This experiment sought to find out if it was possible for humans to not need to sleep. Although the story could be true, it points more to a legend spread on the Internet.
When we discuss research that violated scientific ethics and respect for human rights, it is inevitable to refer to the Russian sleep experiment. This shocking story has as its protagonists five prisoners who, in the murky post-war setting, were subjected to a psychoactive gas.
The aim of this substance was to eliminate the need for sleep, all in order to increase productivity in the Soviet Union and strengthen its image among its adversaries.
However, it is crucial to note that this story was spread through a Creepypasta website , a forum designed to scare or disturb the reader. Therefore, its authenticity is in question. Let’s discover the context that gave rise to this narrative and learn about the disturbing revelations that emerged from the supposed minds exposed to sleep deprivation.
When did the Russian sleep experiment begin?
This story takes place in the twilight of the 1940s, at the end of the Second World War. During this period, full of secrets and tensions, disturbing stories emerged that still capture the attention of many today.
In this scenario, the threat of a Third World War intensifies, especially with the demonstration of nuclear power by the United States. In its quest to overcome its main adversary and weaken the capitalist powers, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) contemplated research that challenged ethical boundaries.
The narrative suggests that the USSR was eager to find a strategic advantage over its enemies. And doing without sleep could have been perceived as a means of improving people’s efficiency, endurance and performance in conflict situations.
Although they had a promising substance, it still needed to be proven effective on humans. However, testing this chemical directly on people in their own territories would entail high risks and possibly even defeat in the war. For this reason, they looked for “guinea pigs.”
In this way, and due to its extreme cruelty, the Russian sleep experiment became a legend that leaves no one indifferent.
What was the Russian sleep experiment like?
The aim of this investigation was as simple as it was disturbing: expose human beings to a gas in order to discover whether it was possible to eliminate the need for sleep . This macabre approach formed the basis of a test surrounded by mystery and speculation.
Five individuals, prisoners of the Gulag , are said to have been subjected to this atrocious test. Their only task was to survive on the base while being exposed to an excitatory gas designed to make them endure without sleep. They were assured that after holding out for thirty days, they would be granted freedom.
Russian researchers kept five people awake for weeks by administering the experimental gaseous stimulant. They locked the subjects in a small, airtight cubicle, monitored by microphones and windows. The room was equipped with water, plenty of food and a few books.
Results of Russian sleep deprivation
For the first few hours, everything seemed to be going on in a fairly neutral and peaceful manner. Small talk could be heard between them and the discomfort had not yet become apparent, or at least had not been expressed in any significant way.
However, what happened as the days went by was even more shocking. The atmosphere, which was initially serene, became claustrophobic and the interactions between the subjects became increasingly dark and disturbing.
It was on the fifth day that the inevitable malaise began to slowly become apparent. Complaints about the conditions increased in intensity and the subjects began to distrust each other, revealing a severe paranoia .
On the ninth day, the individuals exhibited striking behavior. One of them ran and screamed incessantly for three hours; while his companions did not show any reaction. And the fact is that not sleeping well disrupts emotions .
For the next few days, the room remained eerily quiet. Researchers were baffled as they found it unlikely that they could detect no sounds, even though oxygen consumption indicated that all five people were still alive. This situation forced them to enter the room and let in fresh air. Only one of the participants had died.
Most of the food was untouched. The prisoners reportedly self-harmed, tearing off parts of their skin and muscles to consume. What they were asking for surprised investigators even more: they did not want to be released; they begged for the gas to be turned back on, which apparently caused addiction.
This led to a struggle in which the subjects fiercely resisted leaving the room. Shocking, isn’t it? Despite objections raised by some scientists, the commander of the experiment made the decision to reintroduce the gas.
And one by one the prisoners succumbed to episodes of brain death, brought on by sleep. The scene marked the tragic end of an investigation that pushed its participants to the limits of sanity and survival.
Other disturbing evidence that violated ethical standards
Throughout history, the insatiable thirst for knowledge, together with ethical desensitization, has driven some researchers to perpetrate atrocious acts against their fellow human beings; an example of this is the monster experiment . Other of the most popular and controversial investigations that left their mark, due to their inhuman practices, are the following:
- Milgram Experiment: Psychologist Stanley Milgram administered electric shocks to other people to test obedience and authority.
- Stanford Prison Experiment : This study simulated a prison environment with participants randomly assigned as prisoners or guards.
- Project MK Ultra : Carried out by the CIA during the Cold War, this research sought to control the human mind through the use of drugs and psychological manipulation.
Unlike the Russian sleep experiment, there is no doubt about the authenticity of the aforementioned research. Both its execution and its impact are solidly supported by verifiable evidence and testimonies.
Russian Sleep Experiment: A Creepypasta Narrative
This chilling story came to life on one of the websites dedicated to sharing Creepypasta stories . We are talking about a genre of horror narrative that is spread on various online platforms, including forums, blogs and social networks. What is your specialty? Spreading terrifying and fictional stories based on legends and urban myths.
In 2010, the community launched a project that challenged its members to compete for the creepiest urban legend. It was then that a user under the name OrangeSodda wrote the story of the Russian sleep experiment, which became one of the most widely spread tales.
Although the real identity of the author is unknown, it is very likely that behind that account was a teenager passionate about this genre.
So was the investigation real or fictional?
Is this enigmatic and cruel story a shocking testimony of reality or an ingenious creation of the imagination? The answer points, fortunately, towards the second option. But the conclusion is not only due to the Creepypasta stories , but to certain details that are inconsistent with reality.
For example, there is no scientific support for the events described. Surviving after self-mutilation? A gas capable of keeping a person awake for weeks? Zombie-like behavior? None of this has any scientific support. Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that a Soviet penitentiary would release prisoners for being part of an experiment. Seen through this lens, the absurdity wins.
What is real and scientifically supported is the experiment by Randy Gardner and Brice McAllister in 1964. Both wanted to investigate how lack of sleep affects cognitive functions. Thus, supervised by McAllister and a Stanford professor, Randy went 11 days and 25 minutes without sleeping, and without trying any stimulant, which led him to enter the Guinness Book of Records.
This is the closest thing that could be compared to the alleged Russian project. They discovered that during so many hours awake, some parts of Randy’s brain rested and replenished, while others were active. One of the effects associated with their research was the subsequent temporary insomnia.
A legend that persists and grows
Although the story of the Russian prisoners who did not sleep for a month is more likely to be fictional, it is common to find certain additions to the tale on the Internet, which makes it persist and expand
These
stories gain popularity as they are shared online ( copy and paste ); some of them have reached the most conventional media, generating debates about their credibility and challenging the distinction between reality and fantasy.