06-04-2013, 12:58 PM
My sense is that this Japanese study has been hyped.
It's not actually analysing dream imagery. It's analysing hypnagogic hallucinations - which are the strange, interim stage of consciousness between being awake and asleep.
The subjects were in an fMRI machine, which is so noisy that none of them entered sleep. However, they did enter the fugue "drifting off" stage in which hypnagogic hallucinations take place.
Also, whilst the study could show some limited correlation between specific brain activity and generic imagery - eg area x of the brain lights up and the subject is dreaming of a house - the house itself was generic. There was no ability to discern whether it was your family home, a house from a movie, a stranger's house where you were once frightened etc.
However, I entirely agree with you about the Waco and other pre-history of this area of science. Much of this research is undoubtedly covert.
Lots of taxpayer cash and research grants sloshing around.
It's not actually analysing dream imagery. It's analysing hypnagogic hallucinations - which are the strange, interim stage of consciousness between being awake and asleep.
The subjects were in an fMRI machine, which is so noisy that none of them entered sleep. However, they did enter the fugue "drifting off" stage in which hypnagogic hallucinations take place.
Also, whilst the study could show some limited correlation between specific brain activity and generic imagery - eg area x of the brain lights up and the subject is dreaming of a house - the house itself was generic. There was no ability to discern whether it was your family home, a house from a movie, a stranger's house where you were once frightened etc.
However, I entirely agree with you about the Waco and other pre-history of this area of science. Much of this research is undoubtedly covert.
Quote:U.S. President Barack Obama last week announced the BRAIN Initiative, which will spend $100 million to map the interactions between brain cells and neurological circuits. The campaign, starting next year, may lead to new treatments for some of the most common brain disorders led by Alzheimer's, epilepsy and brain injuries, Obama said April 2.
Lots of taxpayer cash and research grants sloshing around.
"It means this War was never political at all, the politics was all theatre, all just to keep the people distracted...."
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war