Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator involved in a variety of cognitive functions. Additionally, acetylcholine is involved in the regulation of REM sleep: cholinergic neurons in the brainstem and basal forebrain project to and innervate wide areas of the cerebral cortex, and reciprocally interact with other neuromodulatory systems, to produce the sleep-wake cycle and different...
We review and synthesize recent religion and brain studies and find that at a broad network neuroscience level, religious/spiritual experiences (RSEs) appear to depend crucially upon interactions between the default mode network (DMN), the frontoparietal network (FPN), and the salience network (SN). We see this general result as broadly consistent with Menon's et al. "Triple Network or...
Here we describe a type of depolarising plateau potentials (PPs; sustained depolarisations outlasting the stimuli) in layer 2/3 pyramidal cells (L2/3PC) in rat prefrontal cortex (PFC) slices, using whole-cell somatic recordings. To our knowledge, this PP type has not been described before. In particular, unlike previously described plateau potentials that originate in the large apical dendrite...
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of Buddhist meditation poetry produced on the basis of forests and meditation on mental and physical healing. Forests are the source and home of life that mankind has enjoyed so far. So nature[forest] has the power of wisdom to bring man back to his true self. Especially, various phytoncides emitted from the forest, and the appearance and...
PsyArXivDecember 21, 2023Victoria Amo, Nikolai Godt, Johannes Leugering et al.
preprint
This paper introduces a novel approach to lucid dream communication, leveraging electrooculographical signals for real-time, natural language messaging within dreams. Beyond traditional horizontal eye movement techniques, our methodology incorporates vertical eye movements, enhancing the expressive range of communication. Recognizing the potential for lucid dream communication in diverse...
For thousands of years people have attempted to understand epilepsy. Throughout our long history, healing traditions have incorporated dreams into both epilepsy diagnosis and treatment. Recent studies provide new information on the impact of epilepsy on sleep and dreaming, while research into epileptic dream content offers insight into the emotional and spiritual experience of people with...
When awareness is separate and distinct from mental activity, When waking, dream and deep sleep pass like clouds, Yet awareness of Self remains, This is the experience of total relaxation…That is why, in tantra, Yoga Nidra is said to be the doorway to Samadhi.1”- Swami Satyananda
Dream research is entering a new era of accelerating insights and discoveries, thanks to the rise of powerful digital analysis tools that are enabling important advances in the empirical study of dreams. This paper illustrates the use of these tools, drawing on the resources of the Sleep and Dream Database, a free online archive of information about sleep and dreaming. These tools include...
The first part of the paper briefly outlines the role of dreams in early Buddhism and their importance in establishing the continuity of the whole tradition, before presenting in the second part entirely new aspects of dreams in the Buddhist eremitic tradition, influenced by the Tantric spiritual horizon, in particular by a transformed concept of the body. The central part of the paper follows...
Robert Greenleaf speaks of his relationship to Robert Frost’s poem Directive as a symbol in understanding servant-leadership, offering meaning for others in their reconciliation of who and where they are on life’s inward journey. Reflecting on my personal journey, in searching for a higher purpose and identifying what needs changing, a closer examination into the learnings inspired by my family...