In 1964, 17-year-old Randy Gardner set the world record for sleep deprivation by staying awake for 11 days and 25 minutes. He undertook the experiment as part of a science fair project in San Diego, California. Gardner stayed awake under observation by Dr. William Dement, a pioneering sleep researcher, and Lt. Cmdr. John J. Ross of the U.S. Navy. During the experiment, Gardner experienced progressively severe physical and mental effects. In the early days, he had trouble focusing and became irritable. By the third or fourth day, he suffered from mood swings, paranoia, and short-term memory problems. He began to hallucinate, seeing and hearing things that weren't there, and had difficulty with basic tasks like simple arithmetic or reading. His speech became slurred at times, and his motor skills were noticeably impaired. Observers carefully documented his symptoms, noting that despite the severe effects, his vital signs remained surprisingly normal, and he did not suffer any lasting physical harm. After breaking the record, Gardner reportedly slept for about 14 hours straight and then took several more hours of naps over the following days to fully recover.(Historic Vids)