Communing with the Gods: The Dreaming Brain in Cross-cultural Perspective

Dreaming is the most common alternative state of consciousness, occurring during sleep in all normal humans. Despite its universality, dreaming remains mysterious and confusing for many Westerners while fascinating scientists studying mind and culture. The neuropsychology of dreaming is summarized, with emphasis on the importance of cross-cultural research. Examples of how different societies use dreaming are discussed. The author describes a phenomenological study of Tibetan Tantric dream yoga. Suggestions are made for improving anthropological study of dreaming, and the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in lucidity is emphasized.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The most common alternative state of consciousness among human beings is dreaming. All normal humans sleep, and during sleep they dream. Still, dreaming is a phenomenon of mystery and confusion for many Westerners, and of fascination to scientists wishing to understand how the mind works, both in terms of neuropsychology and within the context of culture. The neuropsychology of dreaming is summarized and the importance of cross-cultural research emphasized. Examples of common uses to which dreaming is put by different societies is discussed. The author's phenomenological study of Tibetan Tantric dream yoga is described. Improvements of the anthropological study and account of dreaming are suggested, and the importance of the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in lucidity emphasized.