Consciousness during sleep

Gottesmann, C (1999) Neurophysiological support of consciousness during waking and sleep. 

When and how does the SRR process occur — a role for sleep Currently, it is not clear what triggers the SRR process and when SRR usually takes place. We can only entertain a couple of ideas at this stage. One conceivable triggering mechanism could be that conscious recall can initiate the SRR process. This is consistent with common experience, where the more frequently a particular event is recalled, the better and longer it will be remembered. Another triggering mechanism could be the subconscious reactivation of the brain network. This could most likely be achieved during sleep, because various sleep states are... 

Vogel, G., Foulkes D., and Trosman, H. Ego functions and dreaming during sleep onset. Arch. Gen. Psychiat., 1966, 14, 238-248. Reprinted in C. Tart (ed.). Altered States of Consciousness A Book of Readings. New York Wiley, 1969, pp. 75-92. 

All mammals have the same kind of brain activation during sleep as humans. Whether or not they dream is another question, which can be answered only by posing another one Do animals have consciousness The answer to that question has been hotly debated. Many scientists today feel that animals probably do have a limited form of consciousness, quite different from ours in that it lacks language and the capacity for propositional or symbolic thought. 

Animals certainly can t report dreams even if they do have them. But which pet owner would doubt that his or her favourite animal friend has perception, memory, and emotion These are three of the key aspects of consciousness, and they could be experienced whether or not an animal had verbal language as we do. When the animal s brain is activated during sleep, why not assume that the animal has some sort of perceptual, emotional, and memory experience ... 

We do not dream because our unconscious wishes or drives would, if undisguised, wake us up. We dream because our brains are activated during sleep, and we do so even if our primitive drives are turned on by that activation. In fact, such drives are not concealed. Rather, they are revealed in dreams. It is the specific neurophysiological details of that activation process, not psychological defence mechanisms, that determine the distinctive nature of dream consciousness. 

As soon as the Spirit separates from the Soul, the Sprit can no longer remember the Soul. There are several conditions where such a split of the consciousness can occur to a more or lesser degree, for example during sleep, in hypnosis, insanity, and in death. 

In the 1960s, people were fascinated by Indian yogis who were able to alter their states of consciousness by meditation. They were able to control bodily functions, including blood pressure. Benson believes that meditation can help treat high blood pressure, chronic pain, insomnia, and many other physical ailments, as well as in management of stress. Meditating lowers the levels of stress hormones, and boosts the alpha waves to levels seen during sleep. 

Successful assisted ventilation depends critically upon adapting mechanical ventilation to the patient s needs. This is particularly true when the noninvasive mode is used, because the patient is conscious and if ventilation is ineffective or uncomfortable, the patient may reject it. In patients with chronic respiratory failure (CRF), noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is performed during sleep and comfort is particularly important if sleep is not to be compromised. An understanding of the technical equipment, in partieular the elassiQeation and modes of ventilation and the potential problems with each, is cmcial, as is the selecticm of an appropriate interface. This chapter deals with the equipment needs for home mechanical ventilation (HMV), in particular the major ventilator types and modes, interfaces, accessories, and monitoring. 

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