Best amount of time to sleep?

So i was reading some stuff about the phases of sleep. The best amount of time for a powernap is said to be 20 minutes. Some articles even say that it has been scientifically proved that if you have someone monitor your sleeping, wake you up after you have slept for 20 min. and did this three times in a row, that you would receive the benefit of 8 hours of sleep.
Does 20 minutes of sleep really equates to 2.667 hours of rest?
What happens in these first 20 minutes that makes it so much more efficiënt than the other phases?

Question

Best amount of time to sleep?

So i was reading some stuff about the phases of sleep. The best amount of time for a powernap is said to be 20 minutes. Some articles even say that it has been scientifically proved that if you have someone monitor your sleeping, wake you up after you have slept for 20 min. and did this three times in a row, that you would receive the benefit of 8 hours of sleep. 
Does 20 minutes of sleep really equates to 2.667 hours of rest?
What happens in these first 20 minutes that makes it so much more efficiënt than the other phases?

blues · Answer

Not knowing the source where you found this article, I would be hesitant believing its claims. Sight unseen I won't call it a shill or quackery - but 'scientifically proven' does not always mean 'rigorously scientifically proven.'

Study into sleep and circadian patterns are just beginning to be understood in the context of broader metabolic processes, and I would be very dubious of claims that 20 minutes of sleep equates to 2.667 hours of rest. Very dubious.

thomaster · Answer

This link gives some examples of these sleep scedules. http://www.highexistence.com/alternate-sleep-cycles Can't find the 3x20 mins one atm i'll get back on that later. Going to sleep first xD

aaronq · Answer

I've heard about this 20 minute powernap idea. The biggest problem i can see with it is that you have do it every 4 hours (or so), so i don't know what kind of life you would live.

anonymous · Answer

There can always be differences.
The time you spend on your nap depends on 2 things - your lifestyle and your body's physiology.
Some people get tired by the time it's noon, so they need a nap.
Our sleep has 5 phases:
Phase I, Phase II, Phase III, Phase IV (non-REM), and Phase V (REM phase).
A nap works well when you directly go into Phase III where the body begins to regenerate and repair; this works when you are especially tired.
Some people are hyperactive; they don't need naps so often. Others have a slower metabolic rate and need to slow down sometimes.

anonymous · Answer

tried it, did'nt do a thing, still as tired as hell

abb0t · Answer

i wake up 3x as tired after a nap.

dean.shyy · Answer

The common, average, and/or normal amount of sleep time should be 8 hours of sleep per day.

goformit100 · Answer

I swear @ashley007 knows the answer to this question.