Dual Core 3

Default Dual Core 3 variant

Dual Core 3, or DC3, is the third dual core schedule. It follows the sequence of the Dual Core family with further sleep reduction in both core sleeps. Both cores now only have 1 full cycle, with the addition of the nap around sunrise hours.

The total sleep of the whole schedule is 4h, which is also the bare minimum sleep threshold that an average person (~8h monophasic) should be able to adapt to.

Content

  1. Mechanism
  2. Difficulty
  3. Adaptation
  4. Alternate Variants
    1. DC3-extended
  5. Lifestyle Considerations

Mechanism

  • The core sleep in the SWS peak as usual will heavily favor SWS. This core will not be able to cover all SWS requirements (assuming ~90m SWS need each day). Given the low total sleep, the first core always has to lie within the SWS peak for maximum SWS possible.
  • The second core sleep will contain some more SWS and invite some REM sleep as well. 
  • The remaining naps locate in the daytime hours to store a lot of REM sleep. This hopefully fulfills daily REM requirements.
  • The last nap around mid-afternoon hours (~4 PM) may not always guarantee REM sleep. 

In order to schedule Dual Core 3 effectively, both core sleeps will have to be closer together to avoid as much daytime sleep as possible; this will limit the number of daytime naps to 2 per day (noon & afternoon). So far, the default variant is the variant that reported some success; adaptations to DC3 are still very rare due to the more sophisticated split-sleep mechanics of a Dual Core schedule.

Furthermore, it is largely inferior to Everyman 3 (E3), especially the variant with a 3.5h core sleep.

Note on Difficulty

  • Dual Core 3 is also one of the 3 schedules whose original design would provide only 4 hours of sleep each day. The other 2 schedules are E3 and Bimaxion, an easier equivalent of Dymaxion.
  • DC3 is usually a lot harder than E3, mostly due to the rare adaptations.
  • Waking up after only 90 minutes of sleep around graveyard hours increases SWS and/or intense REM wakes during adaptation. With SWS deprivation symptoms being present until an equilibrium and healthy amount of SWS is obtained, oversleeping can occur in any sleep blocks, especially the core sleeps. Attempters often last on this schedule briefly before forfeiting their attempt.

Compared to Bimaxion, it may be equal in terms of difficulty. This is already formidable for any polyphasic beginners and possibly even mutants. One niche of the cold turkey adaptation is that non-nappers will be able to learn to nap effectively faster than on schedules with fewer naps or higher amount of sleep; this is owing to the immense sleep pressure from the schedule that builds up swiftly.

However, Dual Core 3-extended, despite its troublesome scheduling of sleeps, has reported one success in 2020, effectively suggesting that the concepts and design of DC3 are still hospitable for adaptation. The extension of a core sleep on this version facilitates a much more challenging adaptation from the regular DC3 version.

Adaptation Methods

Cold Turkey

Starting the schedule cold turkey (from monophasic) has reported at least two successful adaptations. Regardless of the adaptation pathways, sleepers would eventually need to go through the intensified repartitioning of vital sleep stages to be able to finally adapt to the regular Dual Core 3 setup.

Gradual Adaptation

Gradual adaptation from DC2

A gradual adaptation from Segmented, DC1 or DC2 also looks viable, but so far there are no known successes with this method. The first core of DC2 reduces to only 1 full cycle, with the addition of the third nap. 

Rhythmic Preservation

Polyphasic sleepers can start an adaptation to TC2 and then slowly transition to DC3. This method uses the same number of sleep blocks on each schedule and change a core into a nap. Nonetheless, this path will take a very long time to achieve for both steps.

Alternate Variants 

Since there are only few adaptations to DC3, there are only few respective scheduling variants should one decide on DC3 for the high frequency of sleep, which can boost alertness around the clock with the dense number of naps.

DC3-extended

Extension of both cores

This extended version has long core sleeps and boosts the total sleep to 7h each day. It has recorded one successful adaptation from the Discord community.

  • There is only a 90m wake gap in between 2 cores; because the sleeper was a well-entrained segmented sleeper, the short wake gap posed no problems during adaptation.
  • This small wake gap is also dedicated to praying, which does not require several hours staying awake like on other Dual Core schedules. Despite the inconvenient scheduling, it is possible to adapt to this variant with an appropriate lifestyle and certain personal motivations.
Extension of the first core

This version is more realistic than the first one; it has a reasonable amount of total sleep and can handle the sleep onset issues better during adaptation. Over the years it has reported rare success, mostly because of the intrusiveness of the sleep blocks.

If scheduling is possible, the wake gap between cores can be used for more activities; the distribution of sleeps can make for a comfortable adaptation: skipping a nap during adaptation should not do as much damage as on the standard version.

If all SWS goes into the core, it may be possible to have a Pronap. The first nap is in REM peak hours, which can give more REM sleep than a 20m nap. However, this setup appears redundant, and no one has adapted to it, either. 

However, it is recommended that beginners should pursue E3-extended instead. It has the same amount of sleep, a much higher success rate and more convenient scheduling.

Lifestyle Considerations

Because DC3 possesses all the features of Dual Core sleep, the lifestyles that apply to the previous DC schedules can somewhat apply to DC3.

Planning during nocturnal wake periods on DC3
  • The wake gap at night can benefit religious activities (e.g, praying), studying or planning.
  • Because of a lot of sleep blocks each day, it is necessary to schedule food and other commitments carefully before attempting this schedule.
  • Only flexible, work-from-home occupations should utilize this schedule. Working at one’s own pace in a familiar environment is more relaxing and less demanding than under constant supervision. The amount of sleep deprivation can be insurmountable and damage a lot of productivity hours when adapting in a more stressful and rigorous environment.
  • With only 4 hours of sleep, intense exercising may not be suitable as the recovery process may not suffice with increased SWS requirements. Sickness and injury, which can result in excessive sleep, may also break the schedule, even the adapted state.

It is also unlikely DC3 will be flexible after adaptation due to its low total sleep. With the awkward distribution of sleeps, DC3 is more of a short-term polyphasic schedule. It at least offers a lot of naps for more vivid dreaming opportunities. Being overshadowed by its counterparts E3 and even E3-extended, DC3 generally has limited viability for any long-term consideration.

Main author: GeneralNguyen

Page last updated: 8 April 2021