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of conscious experience early in the night. In REM sleep (c), many
regions are activated about their levels in waking (solid black) while
others are deactivated (shaded).
view that dreaming differs from waking in being more internally
controlled, more hallucinatory, more emotional, and motivated
more by instinct than in waking. In comparing the respective mind
and brain forms of the two states, the dream scientist carries out a
subtraction. In the first set of comparisons, we ask what parts of the
brain are more active in REM sleep and whether they correspond to
formal aspects of the mental state that are intensified in dreaming.
Dreaming is also characterized by a set of related, cognitive features
that are deficient compared with waking, including diminished self-
awareness, diminished reality testing, poor memory, defective logic,
and, most strikingly, the inability to maintain directed thought.
Imaging experiments now tell us that the area of the brain called
the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is normally activated in
support of functions in waking, is deactivated in REM sleep. In
other words, the subtraction in this case shows waking to have more
of both the psychological traits and the underlying regional brain
activation.
To see such striking correlations is almost too good to be true and,
in fact, they prompt us to consider a causal hypothesis in each case.
The reason that dreams are so perceptually intense, so instinctive
and emotional, and so hyperassociative is because the brain regions
supporting these functions are more active. The reason that we
can t decide properly what state we are in, can t keep track of time,
place, or person, and can t think critically or actively is because the
brain regions supporting these functions are less active. Could it be
that simple? Why not? Much apparent complexity melts away when
science comes up with a correct simplification. This is the true
meaning of reductionism.
Now we must recall that regional brain analysis of diminished
psychological function in dreaming shows an association with the
lack of noradrenaline and serotonin in the REM sleep-activated
brain  these two chemicals are known to be necessary for attention,
learning, and memory (and by implication for orientation and
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The new neuropsychology of dreaming
active reasoning). Reciprocally, we must say that the uninhibited
cholinergic system (active in this state) could contribute to the
positive signs mediated by the regional activation of the areas of the
brain involved with hallucinosis, hyperassociation, and
hyperemotionality.
The story keeps getting better and better. We might even wonder
what is left for a psychology of dream content to do. In Chapter 11
we return to this issue but, for now, let us simply say that all of the
features of dreaming that Freud wanted to explain with his wish-
fulfilment, disguise censorship theory are explained in just the way
he hoped might ultimately be possible  by the physiology and
chemistry of the brain.
Can we take our programme of integration a step further? Possibly.
Suppose, for example, that the changes in regional brain activation
during REM sleep in humans were somehow related to the shift in
the modulation of the neurons, which could quite possibly be valid,
because if blood flow is controlled by such modulators in the rest of
the body, surely they should also do so in the brain. In other words,
a simple way of effecting the complex pattern of regional brain
activation and inactivation would be to change the balance of the
modulation of neurons, so changing blood flow and then activation
of the neurons. It is likely that modulators affect neuron function by
both direct (synaptic) and indirect (vascular) actions. It won t be
long before we get an answer from brain science.
The main point is that we can now see our own brain in action,
something that I could only dream of 15 years ago.
6/7/1984 Headache, Dream no. 34
Having suffered from  cluster headache syndrome since January
19, 1984  I began to notice improvement in May and June with a
decrease in frequency and intensity of the attacks.
Last night, I dreamt that I was examining my own head (as at a
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Dreaming
post mortem but this was not suggested in the dream). I pulled back
the scalp and skull with intense curiosity, thinking  at last, I will
find out what had been causing this thing! And, lo and behold,
there was a cause  a large balloon-like mass (or was it air?) pressed
the brain down into the lower third of the skull. It was concave on
its surface.
When I looked closely at the left hemisphere, I noted that it was
moth-eaten which explained my difficulty (almost certainly age-
related) in remembering specific names. I was interested, but not
frightened by what I saw; I was not the least bit aware of the
paradox (tangled hierarchy?) that I was looking at my own I
(= brain). For such a thing to occur there must, of course, be two
brains  but then, the brain-within-the brain will suffice.
I recall saying  Now, wake up so that you can recall this
remarkable scene!
The lucidity with which I was able to waken myself up makes this
report suspect of conscious autosuggestion. But I did not, as far as I
know, attempt to induce it. Instead, it simply read out my
unconscious neurobiological self-analysis.
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The new neuropsychology of dreaming
Does brain damage cause changes in dreaming?
As a result of the conceptual and political split between psychiatry [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]