We'd sleep how nature intended us to sleep - when the sun goes down the body reacts by releasing a chemical (the name slips my tongue) and we begin to feel drowsy and ready for sleep. This is also coupled by changes in our homeostatic system - temperature - which signal the brain to start releasing the chemicals to induce sleep.
I think therefore there is actually no ideal sleep pattern, since we live in such a nature-defying society. However 7.5 hours of sleep works perfectly for me and I'm only 17 years old. It's possible therefore that as I grow older I might need less and less sleep. I think everybody just has their own ideal sleep pattern and there is no set convention. |