Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: smart on 01/12/2016 02:56:28
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Is lucid dreaming healthy? I have episodes of intense dreaming which often wake me up in shock. I'm on atypical antipsychotic medication (Abilify) and this drug seem to intensify my dreaming experience. I usually wake up at 4h00 am being "tired" of this vivid dreaming state. Cannabis use however seem to restore my sleep and reduces the lucid dreams intensity.
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Dreaming is a necessary part of healthy, restorative sleep. Non-natural (drug-induced) sleep that normally suppresses (REM) dream sleep often leaves people feeling paradoxically tired and hung over when they wake. We don't know why, but sleep punctuated by dream phases seems to be critical for psychological wellbeing and mental health.
Indeed, many psychiatric disorders are characterised by poor sleep, which is often regarded as a side effect of the underlying disorder. However, it's also true that sleep disturbance can often lead to greater susceptibility to mental illness and confusion, and more acute symptoms. Take Alzheimer's for example. People often wake and wander at night. This poor sleep actually intensifies the confusion they experience during the day. If sleep can be improved in these people, daytime cognitive function can be optimised.
Clinicians are therefore coming around to the idea that improving sleep as a priority, in many cases, improves a person's general function and chances of recovery and reduces relapse risk.
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Thanks for this info chris.
What are your thoughts on telepathic dreams?
Could it be possible to remotely record and decode subliminal communications (REM state?) through EEG monitoring
of brain connectivity?