need info on the physiological reactions to sleep

I've tried to search the forum and around the net, but can't seem to find any specific information. Guess I don't really know how to formulate my search.
What I need, is scientific information about what goes on in the brain when you fall asleep. like what kinds of drugs the brain releases, and how it affects the body.

I told a friend about my renewed interest in LD, and among other things the WILD technique. She didn't belive me, and thought you have to be some old monk with total mental control to be able to perform such a task. She didn't believe that one is able to "trick" the mind, and actually have the body fall asleep while remaining consious.
When the talk went to sleep-paralyze, she said that the brain doesn't actually paralyze the body, but only emits some drugs that inhibits the actions of of the body. Sleep-paralyze would only be a product of some kind of momentarily melfunction in the brain.
She's one year from graduating as occupational therapist, so she knows a lot about the brain and what goes on in there, so with my knowledge it's hard to argue with her, other than "well, I've read about a lot of people who have tried it" :? :-P

So any info on the subject will be very appreciated, and scientific sources will be welcomed with standing ovation :D

Personlly I think she is right. I have never felt the paralyze stuff from sleep and I think most people who do, dont feel it that often.

What you want to talk about is remaining conscious while you enter a dream. Now I know you can do that. Ask her if she believes you can have lucid dreams. If you can be conscious and be inside a dream at the same time, its not that much of a leap to say you can remain conscious from the start.

Simple thing would be to get a link(one of the links from this site should work), and I think there might be some scientific ones, and just say "look see people do it all the time. That should end the arguement right there.

Or you can have one yourself and say you did it so you know it works.

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Originally posted by Alric
\"look see people do it all the time. That should end the arguement right there.

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yeah... I can tell you don't know this girl :lol:
So I guess I'll just have to learn it myself (even though that might not even convince her). But she does belive in LD though.

I wasn't very sure about the paralyze-stuff though. just seemed like a lot of people mentioning it, when they write about WILD's.
And I did try to "wake up" a couple of years ago, unable to move for almost a minute... kind'a creepy :? :) thought at the time, that what was called sleep-paralyze.
So I guess I'll just keep clicking those links.
But if anyone knows whats goes on in the body and the mind when falling asleep (particularly when only the body falls asleep), post away :)

We are just people on the internet, and we are all nameless and anonymous and lie all the time to further perpetuate our innominate ego's to make ourselves feel better about our lives and our lack of self-esteem.

I'll give you the information on the physiological reactions to sleep; although considering the purposes of asking, it is likely that it will be unbelievable - so I see no point in posting resources. I'll be brief.

Wakefullness is maintained by activity in two systems of brainstem neurons. Nerve cells that make the neurotansmitter acetylcholine stimulate the thalamus, which activates the cerebral cortex. Full wakefullness also requires cortical activation by other neurons that make monoamine neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and histamine. During slow wave sleep, when the brain becomes less active, neuron activity in both pathways slow down. During rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, in which dreaming occurs, the neurons using acetylcholine fire rapidly, producing a dreaming state, but the monoamine cells stop firing altogether.

Because there is no activation throughout the cerebral cortex and somatosensory cortex or any production of monoamine neurotransmitters during REM sleep, no movement can occur during sleep. This is sleep paralysis. There are cases in which these neurotransmitters are incidentally produced which causes sleep walking as the brain believes it is in a wake-state.

There is much more to add; feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer with what you're looking for.

Hope I've been enlightening.

although this is off subject i feel the need to say that we should all bow down to onus, ive not in my life heard so much information, or ENLIGHTENMENT come from one being. Onus, you should give yourself a pat on the back, for you have undoubtably learned more in your life time than most human beings, one of the few that does not waste thier mind. ill be happy if i ever learn enough to come close to you. i think i speak for everyone when i say, ONUS IS A GENIEUS

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Originally posted by incubusfunkman
although this is off subject i feel the need to say that we should all bow down to onus, ive not in my life heard so much information, or ENLIGHTENMENT come from one being. Onus, you should give yourself a pat on the back, for you have undoubtably learned more in your life time than most human beings, one of the few that does not waste thier mind. ill be happy if i ever learn enough to come close to you. i think i speak for everyone when i say, ONUS IS A GENIEUS

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Yes, I agree. O'nus, we are honored to have you here.

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When the talk went to sleep-paralyze, she said that the brain doesn't actually paralyze the body, but only emits some drugs that inhibits the actions of of the body. Sleep-paralyze would only be a product of some kind of momentarily melfunction in the brain. [/b]

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I told my mother last night that she has to wait awhile to ask me questions after waking me up because I might still be in sleep paralysis. (and that happens often with me after LD's for some reason...) She didn't belive me...

O'nus, whats the feeling like when you miss a catch in cricket, or look someone in the eye after a fight?

Whats it like catching a shark?

lol im just asking stupid questions ignore me, you know your stuff ;)

As to knowledge incubusfunkman, it extends beyond the mind and books :P

^_^ :oops:

Thanks you guys

yeah, thanx man... :goodjob2:
sounds like you know your stuff. it was just that kind of info I was looking for. Now I just need to understand it :wink:
nah, think I get most of it. So when I have had some time to think about it, I might bring this thread back to live with some more questions... or who knows, I might even dare to pm you :peek:

But thanks a bunch for now