Research Department

**Kromoh** · 07-19-2009 11:21 PM

Physiology of Sleep

mostly from http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/~bwhit...LEEP/index.htm, a few details from wikipedia (Dream, Sleep, REM Sleep)

Spoiler for Physiology of Sleep:

Nature of Dreams and Sleep

+ Sleep and dreams are part of the biological rhythm - the body's "natural clock"
+ Humans have a natural 24-hour cycle - people deprived of access to light followed an activity/rest cycle of about 24.5 hours according to a study (Nathaniel Kleitman)
+ Sunrise is known to affect one’s biological rhythm
+ Mammals might have been naturally selected to have an exact daily rhythm - primitive mammals sleep during the day, when it was dangerous, and woke during the night.
+ Sleep is consisted of progressive stages, each having a function
+ Nathaniel Kleitman and Arsenky discovered REM sleep in 1953 - dreams have been found to be intrinsically related to REM sleep

Sleep Disorders

+ Narcolepsy (high levels of REM)
- excessive sleepiness during the day
- abrupt loss of muscle tone, without loss of awareness
- sleep atonia
- hypnagogic hallucination
+ Hypersomnia (high levels of NREM)
+ Parasomnia
- night terrors
- sleepwalking and sleeptalking
+ Insomnia

Purpose of Sleep
the multiple theories concerning sleep reveal that little is actually understood about the phenomenon

+ REM sleep is present majorly in mammals
+ Excessive sleep deprivation kills rats
+ Humans under prolonged sleep deprivation have trouble doing basic activites
+ Sleep used for neurological restoration - restoring neurotransmitters and restoring sensitivity to neuroreceptors
+ Sleep used for memorization and learning - humans subject to sleep deprivation have problems with memorizing and recalling memories; humans put to sleep immediately after learning something new memorized the subject much better
+ Sleep used for body restoration - continuous activation of the muscles may injure them just like overexertion would
+ Children and babies require a lot of sleep to function properly (up to 18 daily hours, 8 of them being REM sleep)
+ As humans grow older, they require progressively less sleep, and amount of REM sleep also decreases
+ It has been pointed out that, if sleep were not essential, one should be able to find 1) animal species that do not sleep at all, 2) animals that do not need recovery sleep when they stay awake longer than usual, and 3) animals that suffer no serious consequences as a result of lack of sleep. No animals have been found to date that satisfy any of these criteria
+ Wound healing, the immune system, are known to be affected by sleep

Purpose of Dreaming

+ One theory proposes that dreams are the random activation of some neurons in the brain during REM sleep, and that the forebrain then creates a story to situate and rationalize the nonsensical sensory information
+ Dreams have also been found to be related to memorization and learning. Individuals have reported dreaming about newly-learned subjects or activities in the first night
+ Sigmund Freud hypothesized that dreams are the manifestations of subconscious thoughts and experiences, and suggested that dream interpretation could be a way of analysing the subconscious mind
+ Eugen Tarnow suggests that dreams are excitations of the long-term memory
+ A 2001 study showed evidence that illogical locations, characters, and dream flow may help the brain strengthen the linking and consolidation of semantic memories
+ During the night there may be many external stimuli bombarding the senses, but the mind interprets the stimulus and makes it a part of a dream in order to ensure continued sleep. The mind will, however, awaken an individual if they are in danger or if trained to respond to certain sounds, such as a baby crying
+ Dream experiences are known to affect mood
+ Sleep may be a means of the brain to simulate and predict scenarios (just like listening to music), which could be an evolutionary advantage
+ Dreams can link to actual sensations, such as the incorporation of environmental sounds into dreams such as hearing a phone ringing in a dream while it is ringing in reality, or dreaming of urination while wetting the bed

I might update this later if I find anything more.

**Banana** · 07-20-2009 05:19 PM

well i wrote up a thing on omega 3 and updated the repository(a lil bit) awhile ago

Spoiler for long:

cites:
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3_fatty_acid
2 http://www.enotalone.com/article/9364.html

i think thats it

**Kromoh** · 07-21-2009 06:44 PM

I'll be speedreading through ETWOLD, I'll post whatever I find of relevance.

**Kromoh** · 07-22-2009 10:43 PM

Introductory ideas

ideas taken from reading ETWOLD's first two chapters - mostly for brainstorming
personal notes in blue

Spoiler for long:

**ThreeLetterSyndrom** · 07-23-2009 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by Kromoh

Introductory ideas

ideas taken from reading ETWOLD's first two chapters - mostly for brainstorming
personal notes in blue

Spoiler for long:

That's some great info right there. Is this all for the introduction? I'll get to it.

**Kromoh** · 07-23-2009 01:18 AM

Those are all the ideas I got from reading ETWOLD. There may be something else out there, I dunno.

**Kromoh** · 07-24-2009 03:05 PM

Hey guys. I'll be on the coast until next sunday. I'm still speed-reading through ETWOLD and will probably post something as soon as I come back.

Don't forget to water the dog and feed the plants while I'm out.

**marcc** · 07-26-2009 08:11 PM

http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=80074 this is pretty interesting

**Kromoh** · 07-26-2009 09:15 PM

Hey Jeff, thanks for assuming the DoI while I'm out. I believe I will be able to check back sparingly, but do not entrust your lives on it.

Moose: I'm thinking of ordering that book you wrote about. Sounds interesting.

**mrdeano** · 08-01-2009 02:37 PM

Sources of Choline -

What are Good Sources of Choline?

Until 2004, when the USDA published a database of choline in foods, we only had scattered studies to go on. This more systematic study has revealed some surprises, notably that there is less choline in many foods than previously thought. Although most foods have at least a little choline, some people may have to pay more close attention to get enough in their diets, particularly if they do not eat many whole eggs. Here are some examples of foods that are particularly high in choline, taken from the USDA’s Database for Choline in Foods.

Beef liver - pan-fried - 100 grams (about 3.5 oz) - 418 mg
Whole large egg - 112 mg choline
Beef (ground) 80% lean/20% fat - 3.5 oz patty - 81 mg
Cauliflower - 3/4 C cooked (1" pieces) - 62 mg
Navy beans - 1/2 C cooked - 48 mg
Tofu - 100 grams (about 3.5 oz) - 28 mg
Almonds - sliced - 1/2 cup - 26 mg
Peanut butter - 2 T - 20 mg

For me, one of the important messages of choline (and other recently-discovered nutrients) is that we are still learning so much about nutrition. This emphasizes the importance of eating a variety of whole foods, so we will be less likely to miss out on some yet-to-be-discovered nutrients.

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/nut.../a/choline.htm

**Jeff777** · 08-05-2009 12:48 AM

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[Fact Check Pending]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Originally Posted by Naiya

Here is part one of Chapter 3. I included two more references which will be at the bottom. Researchers, please fact check.

I'll ask someone with time in Editing to take a look as this is still needs editing. Special thank you to Kromoh for allowing me to copy some of his work on the stages of sleep!

The Science of Sleep and Dreaming (Tentative Title)

Humanity has been dreaming since the beginning of our existence. Throughout history and all the ages, mystics, shamans, witch doctors, yogis and the like have attempted to understand sleep, dreams and their meanings.

Nathaniel Kleitman was a professor who established the world's first sleep laboratory in 1925 at the University of Chicago. He and a graduate student by the name of Eugene Aserinsky can be considered the fathers of the study of sleep.

After hours of watching subjects sleep, Kleitman and Aserinsky discovered REM sleep. With further study they were able to find that REM sleep coincided with the dream state, and so the physiology of sleep and dreams was finally given its first true foundations in science.

Ever since their discovery, science has been able to uncover more about the stages of sleep and the nature of each stage.

Measuring brain activity in a sleeping person, scientists discovered that sleep consists of repetitive cycles of brain activity, during which you go through every important part of sleep. These cycles have a duration of around 90 minutes, and change slightly depending on how long you have been sleeping for.

The very first stage (N1) is not necessarily sleep, but rather a beginning to sleep. It is a transition from wakefulness to sleep, often referred to as somnolence. Slowly, brain activity lowers, and the brain enters the sleep process. This is the stage during which hypnic jerks occur.

The following stage (N2) is responsible for around 50% of total sleep. Muscular activity lowers and consciousness of the external environment disappears.

Stage N3 works primarily as a transition period from stage 2 to the deepest stage 4. This is the stage in which night terrors, bedwetting, sleepwalking and sleep-talking occur.

Stage N4, together with stage N3, are considered to be what is called "deep sleep". Brain activity is the lowest, though it is lower on N4. They are considered to be essential for rest, and, together with REM (further below), will rebound in the next night if a person is deprived of them in one night of sleep. Also, trying to wake someone up during deep sleep can prove extremely difficult depending on the person.

The final stage to mention is REM, or Rapid Eye Movement sleep. It is so called because of the rapid movements of the eyes during this phase. Mental activity raises and the brain behaves similar to that of a person who is meditating. For Lucid Dreaming, this is perhaps the most important sleep phase, as it is theorised that the majority of dreams occur during REM sleep. Furthermore, some neurotransmitters in the brain, such as seratonin, are completely shut down, thus inducing what is called sleep atonia (popularly named Sleep Paralysis), during which motor functions do not work. The person is rendered physically motionless, and based on that comes a possible explanation of what dreams are.

This theory, given shape to by Dr. Stephen LaBerge, will be explained below.

Our brain keeps an updated, functional image of our body at all times. This allows us, for example, to know where our arms are placed without actually having to look at them; and to guarantee better muscular coordination for the body. Due to sleep atonia which happens in our sleep, interestingly, even though the body image is still there, if you try to move, say, an arm, it will not move at all. But for the brain, it will be like it had moved. The brain will update the body image, believing the arm has been moved, when actually it has never left its original position. The effect of this is that we can actually "move" our body image, without really moving our physical bodies. Thanks to the highly hallucinogenic state REM sleep gets us in, the brain is then able to actually make up what it would be seeing instead of what it is actually seeing (the back of our eyelids). This is how dreams work: you are able to move your body image without actually moving your real body, and your characteristic, imaginative mind fills in the details.

While we have begun to answer the question of how we sleep, unfortunately there are still no clear answers on why we sleep. It is known that REM sleep--or dreaming sleep--is necessary for our bodies and minds to function. Rest is not a substitute for sleep. Because of this, scientists suspect that there are things the mind needs from sleep such as brain development or memory. No theory as of yet has been stood up to the rigors of scientific review, so nothing has been proven, but researchers are still hopeful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/1999...-kleitman.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/11/sc...-we-sleep.html

The next part will be on the physiology of lucid dreaming. Should have it posted by tomorrow at the latest. Thanks!

**mrdeano** · 08-07-2009 09:41 AM

I will send the above out to the team immediately.

**Naiya** · 08-07-2009 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by mrdeano

I will send the above out to the team immediately.

We've already got the next draft up, so please do that instead:

http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...52&postcount=9

**Exhalent** · 08-07-2009 06:59 PM

Sorry guys, I do not recall checking in here. I have been pretty busy lately, but hopefully I can get around to contributing. Anything other than the fact check that needs researched/completed, or should I just go freelance?

**mrdeano** · 08-08-2009 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Exhalent

Sorry guys, I do not recall checking in here. I have been pretty busy lately, but hopefully I can get around to contributing. Anything other than the fact check that needs researched/completed, or should I just go freelance?

Freelance until you receive requests from the writing department.
At this moment, have a read through the 'Chapter 3 wip' thread and check for any factual errors.

Thanks

**mrdeano** · 08-25-2009 05:41 AM

Prospective Memory -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospective_memory

The part of the brain, that is responsible for remembering to recognize dreamsigns is called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortext (DPC). This part of the brain that is located at the front of your head, is responsible for all kinds of short-term memory activities. The one we need to focus on is called "prospective memory", the intention to remember to do something in the future. It is this DPC part of the brain that is relatively inactive during normal REM-sleep, but suddenly becomes active when you are lucid in your dreams. Your success in recognizing dreaming is therefore highly related to your prospective memory skills. Knowing which recurrent dreamsigns you have, having a specific lucid dream plan ready, feeling motivated and excited, and your ability to visualize yourself becoming lucid are all related to stimulate the DPC as much as possible before going to bed. So as I mentioned earlier on, all six steps we've previously discussed in the Lucidipedia Matrix have led up to your success in prospective memory.

http://www.lucidipedia.com/learning/...ecognizedreams

DL-PFC serves as the highest cortical area responsible for motor planning, organization, and regulation. It plays an important role in the integration of sensory and mnemonic information and the regulation of intellectual function and action. It is also involved in working memory. However, DL-PFC is not exclusively responsible for the executive functions. All complex mental activity require the additional cortical and subcortical circuits that DL-PFC is connected with.[2][3]

The stroke syndrome which results from damage to the DLPFC is called "dysexecutive syndrome". Functional studies demonstrate both executive function as well as Working Memory.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorsola...frontal_cortex

**mrdeano** · 09-06-2009 07:08 AM

I wonder if I could find a what food is good for your dreams and maybe a chef could make a simple meal using the ingredients. We could called it the 'Lucid Dreamer Meal' or something

**mrdeano** · 09-10-2009 04:20 PM

I have decided that I am going to try and avoid Wikipedia from now on. Since anyone is able to edit pages.
Anyway here is what I have found

Spoiler for History Of Sleep Pararlysis:

Sleep paralysis was first described in 1876 by Mitchell, who termed it "night palsy" (Mitchell 1876); the term "sleep paralysis" was introduced by Wilson in 1928. Earlier descriptions are, however, found in the medical literature, such as the one by the Dutch physician Isbrand van Diemerbroeck in 1664 (Kompanje 2008). Other names in English used to describe sleep paralysis include "nocturnal paralysis," "cataplexy of awakening," "hypnagogic and hypnopompic paralysis," and "predormital and postdormital paralysis"; in French it has been termed cataplexie du reveil. Furthermore, "Old Hag" in Canada, kanashibari in Japan, "ghost oppression" in Hong Kong Chinese (Wing et al 1994), and ogun oru in Nigerians (Aina and Famuyiwa 2007) are colloquial terms employed by patients and reflect popular credence of sleep paralysis as witchcraft possession and paranormal experiences, very relevant to the issue of transcultural psychiatry (Gangdev 2006; Jacobson 2009). Adie and Wilson, in the 1920s, noted that sleep paralysis occurs frequently in narcoleptic patients. Sleep paralysis is included in the "narcoleptic tetrad" together with sleep attacks, cataplexy, and hypnagogic hallucinations. Sleep paralysis may also occur in otherwise normal persons, a condition called "isolated recurrent sleep paralysis." The familial occurrence of isolated sleep paralysis is called "familial sleep paralysis." Isolated recurrent sleep paralysis is classified within the parasomnias usually associated with REM sleep in the current International Classification of Sleep Disorders (American Sleep Disorders Association 2005)

http://www.medlink.com/web_content/MLT0004T.asp

Although what is interesting is even though a lot of sources state Weir Mitchell was the first to describe Sleep paralysis, this source states that sleep paralysis was described in an earlier book 'Moby Dick'

There can?t be many people who have not seen the film ?Moby Dick?, either in its original 1956 version with Gregory Peck, or the more recent 1998 television adaptation with Patrick Stewart. I?m sure too that many people will have read the book itself, written by Herman Melville way back in 1851. What you probably won?t remember however is one particular passage from the book in which the narrator, Ishmael, says:

?For what seemed ages piled on ages, I lay there, frozen with the most awful fears, not daring to drag away my hand; yet ever thinking that if I could but stir in one single inch, the horrid spell would be broken. I knew not how this consciousness at last glided away from me; but waking in the morning, I shudderingly remembered it all, and for days and weeks and months afterwards I lost myself in confounding attempts to explain the mystery.?

Although sleep paralysis would not be described by the American neurologist Weir Mitchell for another 25 years, this gives us a vivid account of a condition that has been around since the dawn of time.

http://www.roseindia.net/articles/pa...ishy-tale.page

I am pretty sure someone with a copy of the book can confirm that.

**Naiya** · 09-11-2009 05:45 PM

Wiki is a good place to start, but I agree that it's better to rely on it as an actual source as little as possible.

**Jeff777** · 09-13-2009 04:29 AM

Great work deano

. I'll index it now.

**mrdeano** · 09-21-2009 11:51 AM

I really need to get my ass down to the library. XD

**Naiya** · 09-21-2009 03:37 PM

Yes! Go find out more about the history or dreaming and lucid dreaming!! Kthx!

**Jabrol2001** · 09-26-2009 01:58 PM

Okedoky im checking in. Whats up? How is everyone? Have a good summer?

**Jabrol2001** · 09-26-2009 02:09 PM

Any reaserch you guys want to throw at me?

**Jeff777** · 09-26-2009 03:29 PM

Hey Jabrol

Go here. and checkout the directory of information. We'll need research from magazines articles, websites (and books especially) on dream related information to support the author of Chapter IV

Thread: Research Department

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