Tony Wright (sleep deprivation)
Encyclopedia
Tony Wright is an author and consciousness researcher from Penzance
, Cornwall
. He claims to hold the world record for sleep deprivation
.
record in May 2007. He based his record-breaking attempt on the belief that Randy Gardner was officially recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as holding the deprivation record of 264 hours. Others believe that the previous Guinness record was for 11½ days, or 276 hours, and was set by Toimi Soini in Hamina, Finland, between February 5 to 15, 1964, and that Wright did not in fact break any record. Wright's friend Graham Gynn asserts that the Gardner record is the accepted record in the sleep research community. Wright's record claim was not credited by The Guinness Book of Records, since it no longer accepts records related to sleep deprivation
due to the possible health risks.
Wright claims that by reverting to a biochemically complex diet of raw foods approximating that eaten by our forest dwelling ancestors, he is able to perform such feats of deliberate insomnia. He also asserts that his motivation for breaking the world sleep deprivation record was neither fame nor fortune. Rather, he claims his intention was to promote his radical theories of human neurological degeneration that are proposed in his self published book, Left In The Dark, which he says are revolutionising mankind's ability to comprehend its own largely dysfunctional behaviour.
book, it presents an outline of his theory that, due to the consequences of cerebral dominance, humans are unavoidably governed and constrained by the brain's left hemisphere
, which he says requires significantly more sleep than the right.
It is Wright's theory that the left hemisphere is actually a hormonally retarded version of the right hemisphere. As evidence for this, Wright points to autism
researcher Prof. S. Baron-Cohen's work implicating high levels of uterine testosterone in the development of autistic tendencies. These are tendencies which he says are merely a stronger manifestation of our species-wide neurological condition - a damaged, yet dominant, left hemisphere.
Wright claims the current classification of autism
is actually just a small part of a spectrum of dysfunction that should include us all. According to his theories, everybody has a neurologically damaged left hemisphere that is more dominant (and more damaged) than it was in our more functional evolutionary past.
In the case of some autistic savants
, who sometimes display genius abilities in specific areas, Wright's theory states that, due to the extent of the damage to the left hemisphere, it is less able to suppress the amazing abilities of the right. Wright asserts that the fact that these individuals frequently face social challenges is explained by understanding that the left hemisphere still retains overall dominance in many of the areas that compose the various facets of our personality.
In his self published book, Wright further questions the widespread assumption that we are indeed at the pinnacle of our evolution
. Instead, Wright proposes that the shift away from our evolutionary diets, and the knock-on hormonal effects on the development of our brains, has resulted in species-wide neurological dysfunction with profound effects on the integrity of our perception. Wright points to unprecedented levels of systemic dysfunction, degenerative disease, depression, societal problems, and many other indicators of compromised human function as evidence.
Wright proposes that once we strayed from tropical fruit diets, the biochemistry
was simply no longer present to support optimal neurological development. According to Wright's theories, this eventually led indirectly to increased left hemisphere dominance and damage, a compromised and deluded perception, and to us exhibiting a profoundly dysfunctional psychology. Critically, Wright proposes that the neurological degeneration took place mainly in the left hemisphere while the right hemisphere remained comparatively functional, although it was still hugely suppressed by the more dominant (and dysfunctional) left.
Wright also proposes that the ancient Ages of Man
mythology accurately describes the onset and progression of a neurological condition that correlates with the end of the rapid expansion of the human brain. He also proposes that the origins of ‘religious’ techniques and practices were palliative attempts at treating the condition.
Furthermore, Wright claims that, through the use of specific techniques, it may be possible to transcend the dysfunction of the left hemisphere and access more of our superior right hemisphere function. This, he claims, would lead to a much more functional experience of life, for us as individuals and as a society. Wright's research ultimately aims to elucidate a specific protocol for accessing superior brain function, for which he believes the primary mechanisms are reducing left hemisphere dominance, and activating right hemisphere function. Wright also claims that preventing the condition in the first place may be feasible by simply restoring the hormonal environment that prevailed during the rapid expansion of our brain during foetal development.
, Prof. Colin Groves
, Prof. Ashok Gangadean
, Prof. Robert Greenway, Dr. Michael Winkelman, and the psychiatrist Darold Treffert
. Non-academic supporters for Wright's theories include the founder of the Eden Project
, Tim Smit
; former Police Superintendent Peter Bennett; and author and raw foodist
, David Wolfe. A second edition of Wright's book was published in February 2008 by Lulu.com. It includes a foreword by Dr. Dennis McKenna
that offers further support for Wright's theory.
Wright is a member of Courvoisier's 'The Future 500', which is "an exclusive network of pioneers, entrepreneurs and revolutionary spirits from the arts, social enterprise, business, science, gastronomy, fashion and beyond".
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. He claims to hold the world record for sleep deprivation
Sleep deprivation
Sleep deprivation is the condition of not having enough sleep; it can be either chronic or acute. A chronic sleep-restricted state can cause fatigue, daytime sleepiness, clumsiness and weight loss or weight gain. It adversely affects the brain and cognitive function. Few studies have compared the...
.
Sleep deprivation record
Wright claimed the world sleep deprivationSleep deprivation
Sleep deprivation is the condition of not having enough sleep; it can be either chronic or acute. A chronic sleep-restricted state can cause fatigue, daytime sleepiness, clumsiness and weight loss or weight gain. It adversely affects the brain and cognitive function. Few studies have compared the...
record in May 2007. He based his record-breaking attempt on the belief that Randy Gardner was officially recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as holding the deprivation record of 264 hours. Others believe that the previous Guinness record was for 11½ days, or 276 hours, and was set by Toimi Soini in Hamina, Finland, between February 5 to 15, 1964, and that Wright did not in fact break any record. Wright's friend Graham Gynn asserts that the Gardner record is the accepted record in the sleep research community. Wright's record claim was not credited by The Guinness Book of Records, since it no longer accepts records related to sleep deprivation
Sleep deprivation
Sleep deprivation is the condition of not having enough sleep; it can be either chronic or acute. A chronic sleep-restricted state can cause fatigue, daytime sleepiness, clumsiness and weight loss or weight gain. It adversely affects the brain and cognitive function. Few studies have compared the...
due to the possible health risks.
Wright claims that by reverting to a biochemically complex diet of raw foods approximating that eaten by our forest dwelling ancestors, he is able to perform such feats of deliberate insomnia. He also asserts that his motivation for breaking the world sleep deprivation record was neither fame nor fortune. Rather, he claims his intention was to promote his radical theories of human neurological degeneration that are proposed in his self published book, Left In The Dark, which he says are revolutionising mankind's ability to comprehend its own largely dysfunctional behaviour.
Left In The Dark
Wright and Graham Gynn co-wrote Left in the Dark, in May 2007. A self-publishedSelf-publishing
Self-publishing is the publication of any book or other media by the author of the work, without the involvement of an established third-party publisher. The author is responsible and in control of entire process including design , formats, price, distribution, marketing & PR...
book, it presents an outline of his theory that, due to the consequences of cerebral dominance, humans are unavoidably governed and constrained by the brain's left hemisphere
Lateralization of brain function
A longitudinal fissure separates the human brain into two distinct cerebral hemispheres, connected by the corpus callosum. The sides resemble each other and each hemisphere's structure is generally mirrored by the other side. Yet despite the strong anatomical similarities, the functions of each...
, which he says requires significantly more sleep than the right.
It is Wright's theory that the left hemisphere is actually a hormonally retarded version of the right hemisphere. As evidence for this, Wright points to autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
researcher Prof. S. Baron-Cohen's work implicating high levels of uterine testosterone in the development of autistic tendencies. These are tendencies which he says are merely a stronger manifestation of our species-wide neurological condition - a damaged, yet dominant, left hemisphere.
Wright claims the current classification of autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
is actually just a small part of a spectrum of dysfunction that should include us all. According to his theories, everybody has a neurologically damaged left hemisphere that is more dominant (and more damaged) than it was in our more functional evolutionary past.
In the case of some autistic savants
Savant syndrome
Savant syndrome , sometimes referred to as savantism, is a rare condition in which people with developmental disorders have one or more areas of expertise, ability, or brilliance that are in contrast with the individual's overall limitations...
, who sometimes display genius abilities in specific areas, Wright's theory states that, due to the extent of the damage to the left hemisphere, it is less able to suppress the amazing abilities of the right. Wright asserts that the fact that these individuals frequently face social challenges is explained by understanding that the left hemisphere still retains overall dominance in many of the areas that compose the various facets of our personality.
In his self published book, Wright further questions the widespread assumption that we are indeed at the pinnacle of our evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
. Instead, Wright proposes that the shift away from our evolutionary diets, and the knock-on hormonal effects on the development of our brains, has resulted in species-wide neurological dysfunction with profound effects on the integrity of our perception. Wright points to unprecedented levels of systemic dysfunction, degenerative disease, depression, societal problems, and many other indicators of compromised human function as evidence.
Wright proposes that once we strayed from tropical fruit diets, the biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
was simply no longer present to support optimal neurological development. According to Wright's theories, this eventually led indirectly to increased left hemisphere dominance and damage, a compromised and deluded perception, and to us exhibiting a profoundly dysfunctional psychology. Critically, Wright proposes that the neurological degeneration took place mainly in the left hemisphere while the right hemisphere remained comparatively functional, although it was still hugely suppressed by the more dominant (and dysfunctional) left.
Wright also proposes that the ancient Ages of Man
Ages of Man
The Ages of Man are the stages of human existence on the Earth according to Greek mythology. Two classical authors in particular offer accounts of the successive ages of mankind, which tend to progress from an original, long-gone age in which humans enjoyed a nearly divine existence to the current...
mythology accurately describes the onset and progression of a neurological condition that correlates with the end of the rapid expansion of the human brain. He also proposes that the origins of ‘religious’ techniques and practices were palliative attempts at treating the condition.
Furthermore, Wright claims that, through the use of specific techniques, it may be possible to transcend the dysfunction of the left hemisphere and access more of our superior right hemisphere function. This, he claims, would lead to a much more functional experience of life, for us as individuals and as a society. Wright's research ultimately aims to elucidate a specific protocol for accessing superior brain function, for which he believes the primary mechanisms are reducing left hemisphere dominance, and activating right hemisphere function. Wright also claims that preventing the condition in the first place may be feasible by simply restoring the hormonal environment that prevailed during the rapid expansion of our brain during foetal development.
Support for Wright's theories
Wright's radical ideas have been endorsed by academics such as Richard HeinbergRichard Heinberg
Richard Heinberg is an American journalist and educator who has written extensively on energy, economic, and ecological issues, including oil depletion. He is the author of ten books...
, Prof. Colin Groves
Colin Groves
Colin Peter Groves is Professor of Biological Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.Born in England on 24 June 1942, Colin Groves completed a Bachelor of Science at University College London in 1963, and a Doctor of Philosophy at the Royal Free Hospital School of...
, Prof. Ashok Gangadean
Ashok Gangadean
Ashok Gangadean is Professor of Philosophy at Haverford College, Haverford, PA and a founder-director of the Global Dialogue Institute. He has written many books exploring the concept of a global consciousness. He is Co-Convenor of the World Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality....
, Prof. Robert Greenway, Dr. Michael Winkelman, and the psychiatrist Darold Treffert
Darold Treffert
Darold A. Treffert is a psychiatrist who specializes in the epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders. He has also conducted research on savant syndrome. He is a Clinical Professor at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and holds a position at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac,...
. Non-academic supporters for Wright's theories include the founder of the Eden Project
Eden Project
The Eden Project is a visitor attraction in Cornwall in the United Kingdom, including the world's largest greenhouse. Inside the artificial biomes are plants that are collected from all around the world....
, Tim Smit
Tim Smit
Tim Smit KBE is a Dutch-born British businessman, famous for his work on the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project, both in Cornwall, Britain.-Biography:...
; former Police Superintendent Peter Bennett; and author and raw foodist
Raw foodism
Raw foodism is the practice of consuming uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods as a large percentage of the diet....
, David Wolfe. A second edition of Wright's book was published in February 2008 by Lulu.com. It includes a foreword by Dr. Dennis McKenna
Dennis McKenna
Dennis Jon McKenna is an American ethnopharmacologist, author and brother to well-known psychedelics proponent Terence McKenna.-Profile:...
that offers further support for Wright's theory.
Wright is a member of Courvoisier's 'The Future 500', which is "an exclusive network of pioneers, entrepreneurs and revolutionary spirits from the arts, social enterprise, business, science, gastronomy, fashion and beyond".
External links
- "How man pushed sleepless limits". BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, May 25, 2007 - Tony Wright website
- BBC Video nation - "Sleepless in Penzance"
- A full synopsis of the book 'Left In The Dark'
- Conscious TV Interview
- www.brainwaving.com : An article entitled 'Consciousness and the Direction of Structure', by Tony Wright
- Audio interview in July 2009 with Bryan Crump on Radio New Zealand National (mp3)
- Der Spiegel Article - November 2009 (German)
- Der Spiegel Interview - November 2009 (German)