Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Vol. 14, No. 8 August 15, 2018 Creamer and colleagues1 have addressed the very important topic of the high prevalence of clinically significant nightmares (31.2% of 473 military personnel met criteria for nightmare disorder [NDO] and endorsed trouble falling asleep because of bad dreams on at least a weekly basis) among military personnel, with possibly only...
Lucid dreaming is a remarkable state of consciousness in which one is aware of the fact that one is dreaming while continuing to dream. Based on the strong relationship between physiological activation during rapid eye-movement sleep and lucid dreaming, our pilot research investigated whether enhancing cortical activation via acetylcholinesterease inhibition (AChEI) would increase the frequency...
This chapter explores the polymorphic capacities of ruopfu by examining Angami and broader Naga understandings of the tekhumiavi – &s;man in the shape of a tiger&s; – that still exist among the Eastern Angami. Thus, in addition to elucidating dream &s;reversibility&s; in relation to the composite &s;selves&s; of Angami personhood, ruopfu as a disembodied subject can also reveal the ways in...
Can dreams reveal insight into our cognitive abilities and aptitudes (i.e., “human intelligence”)? The relationship between dream production and trait-like cognitive abilities is the foundation of several long-standing theories on the neurocognitive and cognitive-psychological basis of dreaming. However, direct experimental evidence is sparse and remains contentious. On the other hand, recent...
Sleep terrors, one of the non-rapid eye movement parasomnias, are interesting nighttime phenomena that can be distressing for parents. For most children, this behavior is temporary and does not cause significant problems. However, some psychiatric conditions may have a higher prevalence of parasomnias, including sleep terrors. Although sleep terrors may be a benign and common event in children,...
As an anthropologist, Felicitas Goodman examined the effect of what she believed to be the ritual body postures of shamans, both current and ancient, and found that they gave direction to their shamanic journeying. This research of Goodman and now James Honeycutt opens a new door, a new tool that can be an important addition to the tools of psychotherapy. In her research of ecstatic trance,...
An experimental home study examined the impact of a pre-sleep protocol for enhancing self-awareness, lucidity, and responsiveness in dreams. It included ingesting the cholinesterase inhibitor galantamine--which is widely reported to increase the frequency of lucid dreaming--prior to engaging in middle-of-the-night meditation and the imaginary reliving of a distressing dream while exercising new...
Using the grounded theory method (GTM), this article proposes an “integral” model for studying the development and use of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies. Integral models seek holistic understanding by combining third-person, empirical perspectives with first-person, subjective experience. Here, the proposed model provides a comparative analysis of immersive virtual reality...
Objective: This report aims to extend previous findings on predictors of treatment dropout and response within nightmare treatment. Method: Factors predicting treatment noninitiation, dropout, and response were examined in 70 trauma-exposed individuals treated in a randomized controlled trial of 2 conditions (exposure [EX] and nonexposure) of a therapy for trauma nightmares. Results: Together,...
Are dreams bizarre, nonsensical experiences or real-world simulations? I introduce a pluralist approach to dream content that highlights the philosophical and empirical implications of treating dreaming as a highly varied experience that can be anywhere on a spectrum from truly bizarre and incoherent to wake-like and mundane. Here I discuss several explanations for why theorists disagree on...