In 1964, 17-year-old Randy Gardner stayed awake for 264 hours (about 11 days) as part of a monitored high-school science project observed by Stanford sleep researcher William Dement, the longest scientifically documented period of voluntary sleep deprivation. Guinness World Records has since stopped accepting new attempts at this category due to serious health risks associated with extreme sleep deprivation.
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In 1964, 17-year-old Randy Gardner stayed awake for 264 hours (about 11 days) as part of a monitored high-school science project observed by Stanford sleep researcher William Dement, the longest scientifically documented period of voluntary sleep deprivation. Guinness World Records has since stopped accepting new attempts at this category due to serious health risks associated with extreme sleep deprivation.
The longest period of voluntary, monitored wakefulness documented in a controlled scientific or historically verified setting, distinguishing it from unverifiable anecdotal claims.
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Permanent ID limitsregistry.com/limits/LR-MOST-EXTREME-DOCUMENTED-HUMAN-SLEEP-DEPRIVATION-SURVIVED
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Limits Registry. LR-MOST-EXTREME-DOCUMENTED-HUMAN-SLEEP-DEPRIVATION-SURVIVED. Longest scientifically documented period of voluntary human sleep deprivation. 2026.