Brain Coral Reef Photo by Audi Insperation

This is amazing.

Japanese scientists claim they have developed a technique that visually records ones thoughts and dreams onto a computer monitor.

The technique is done by analyzing changes in blood flow in the region of the brain where vision is processed, called the visual cortex.

A spokesman for Computational Neuroscience Laboratories in Kyoto, Japan, says that “by applying this technology, it may become possible to record and replay subjective images that people perceive like dreams.”

These are big words, with enormous implications!

So much  that I thought immediately, “No… this is certainly a hoax.”

But such is not the case.

However, the research is not as far along as some of these headlines lead you to believe. While still an amazing feat, all I can deduce from the information released thus far is that researchers were able to reconstruct different letters that were seen by subjects, and this was done by only looking at brain processing data. (In this case, data from a type of MRI.)  I do not see specific mention that images from a dream were captured.

But if this technology is perfected for bigger and more complex images, then theoretically, images you see in a dream could be captured and outputted onto a monitor! Ahhhh! (And we won’t even get into the creepy mind-reading privacy invasion issues this technology would bring about.)

Here’s an idea:

When the research gets to this point, experienced lucid dreamers would make excellent lab subjects.

Studies could be done in which a dreamer becomes lucid, finds a pre-existing object or manipulates the dreamscape to produce a specific object, marks the moment using an eye signal (such as looking left then right 8 times in a row), then focuses on the object for a specific period of time, and finishes with another eye signal to mark that they have stopped looking at the object.

If an image is produced from an analysis of the brains processing data from the time range in between eye signals, the dream subject would be able to concur if this is in fact, what he or she was looking at.

Wow. (And that would be just the tiniest tip of the iceberg for this technology…)

I wonder if this is something that in 5-10 years will be possible to do in the lab? Or will this run into unforeseen hurdles that are never jumped?

It just sounds too amazing to be true, I’m in shock.

…

Here’s some quality sources reporting on the study:

New Scientist: Mindreading Software Could Record Your Dreams

Scientific American: Can Brain Scans Read Our Minds?

Pink Tentacle: Scientist Extract Images Directly from Brain

    Photo by Audi Insperation

Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self by Robert Waggoner

It’s rare that a book comes out these days that advances the discussion and understanding of Lucid Dreaming, but this is what Robert Waggoner has accomplished with his new book, Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self
.

The official description reads…

Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self is the account of an extraordinarily talented lucid dreamer who goes beyond the boundaries of both psychology and religion. In the process, he stumbles upon the Inner Self.

While lucid (consciously aware) in the dream state and able to act and interact with dream figures, objects, and settings, dream expert Robert Waggoner experienced something transformative and unexpected. He was able to interact consciously with the dream observer-the apparent Inner Self-within the dream. At first this seemed shocking, even impossible, since psychology normally alludes to such theoretical inner aspects as the Subliminal Self, the Center, the Internal Self-Helper in vague and theoretical ways. Waggoner came to realize, however, that aware interaction with the Inner Self was not only possible, but actual and highly inspiring. He concluded that while aware in the dream state, one has both a psychological tool and a platform from which to understand dreaming and the larger picture of man’s psyche as well. Waggoner proposes 5 stages of lucid dreaming and guides readers through them, offering advice for those who have never experienced the lucid dream state and suggestions for how experienced lucid dreamers can advance to a new level.

Lucid Dreaming offers exciting insights and vivid illustrations that will intrigue not only avid dreamworkers but anyone who is interested in consciousness, identity, and the definition of reality.”

Peer Review & Reception

Dream researchers, writers, and heavyweights such as Jayne Gackenback, Robert Van De Castle, Robert Moss, and Stanley Krippner lended their endorsement to Waggoners new book on the back cover, and thus far, Amazon.com reviewers have all given it a 5 star rating, the highest rating possible, with some calling it the best book ever written on lucid dreaming. Big words!

Interview with Author — coming soon!

I will be interviewing Robert Waggoner on the subject of lucid dreaming and the themes discussed in his book.

I’m really excited for the opportunity to interview an individual who has logged over 1,000 lucid dreams, has 30 years of experience in the subject, and currently serves as the President-elect for IASD, The International Association for the Study of Dreams!

Be on the lookout for this combination book review/author interview next month here on Dreaming Life.

In the meantime, you can learn more about (or buy) his book on Amazon.com.

 
Whoa – this is interesting.

The International Association for the Study of Dreams has put together an INTERNET CONFERENCE on dreaming. It takes place Sept 21` through Oct 5.

Here’s a snippet from the site:

Between September 21 – October 5, 2008 join some of the world’s foremost experts on the subject of Psi dreaming for two weeks of cutting-edge papers, discussions, workshops, and chats. If you’ve ever had a precognitive dream, a lucid dream, or simply an “unusual dream” that never quite made sense, this is the place for you.

You might also be curious to know the blogger behind Dream Studies, Ryan Hurd, is presenting some of work on lucid dreaming in this conference, too!

Check it out.

PS And maybe I’ll see you there?

http://poppyseedtea.com/

The parents who run this site had their son die after consuming a large dose of self-made poppy seed tea.

The site was set up as a “information service” to others about the dangers of how it can happen.

It’s not full of crazy hype. It just is what it is.

Much respect to these parents, who in greiving for their son, have set up a sensible website aimed at harm reduction.

Alive Mind Media is releasing 3 films this summer, dubbing the release “The Trippy Trilogy – Alive Mind’s Altered Consciousness Collection”.

Flicker
DVD release Date: July 15

Documentary on the 1961 invention of Brion Gysin’s “Dreammachine”, described as “a hypnotic light device with the power to induce hallucinations.” (Is this a precursor to the Sound and Light Machine?)

Hofmann’s Potion
DVD release Date:  June 15

Documentary on LSD featuring Albert Hofmann, Timonthy Leary, Aldous Huxley, Ram Dass, Ralph Metzner Stanisav Grof, and more.
Preview:

Hofmann’s Potion – 9 Minute Preview

Hippie Masala
DVD Release Date: August 8, 2008

Official Description:

“In the 1960s and 1970s thousands of hippies journeyed East in the search for enlightenment, free drugs or a ‘pure’ life. Indian peasants assumed that a severe drought in the West was the reason for their migration. India’s holy men saw it, more accurately, as a search for spirituality. Most moved back to their home countries after a few months or years. Some stayed for good. Hippie Masala shows aging flower children who, after fleeing Western civilization, found a new home in India.”

Hippie Masala Trailer:

Check out the Alive Mind Media site for complete info, including links to buying any of these DVD’s.

I really hope Hippie Masala comes to my local indie theatre, because it looks super fascinating!

Welcome to the first edition of my Inner Exploration carnival!

This carnival is dedicated to sharing blog posts related to dreaming, lucid dreaming, spirituality, and exploring the mind, body, and soul.

2 months and 33 submissions later, we’re ready to roll!

(33 submissions? Where’d the rest go? Truth is I had to weed out some whackness, including a bunch of spammish bloggers who think that seeing The Secret means they should start a blog and get rich. Blah!)

Note: When you see this graphic, it means this post comes to you highly recommended and that you should check it out.

Meditation

Anmol Mehta presents Ajna Chakra Meditation Technique (3rd Eye) -Guided Meditation posted at Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment and Kundalini Yoga, saying, “Meditation technique that helps develop intuition and insight. The meditation works to awaken the “Divine Eye” and promotes the ability to see and feel beyond the ordinary mind. Also facilitates Lucid Dreaming.”

Vera Nadine presents Reading the Trees posted at Jar of Spiders, saying, “They have been here for ages, before our birth even. They stand tall and strong, majestic against the harshness of the world. What can we learn from the trees? How can we hear them speak? Let this colorful guided meditation lead the way.”

Dreams and Lucid Dreaming

The Mad Hatter presents Complete Beginner’s Introduction To Lucid Dreaming posted at Dreaming to Infinity, saying, “This is my introduction to lucid dreaming series.”

Jacob Haqq-Misra presents Dream Journal posted at Reflections, Ideas, and Dreams.

Victoria Wright presents Lucid Dreaming-Taking Control of your Subconscious posted at Personal Development Blog.

Spirituality & Meaning

Daniel Brenton presents The Holy posted at The Meaning of Existence, saying, “I’d like to share an article with you about experiencing the sublime, and the personal recognition that we interact with higher levels of own consciousness, levels of which I was not be aware. I call it “The Holy.”

Cardin Lilly Routh presents How to Understand What the Universe Wants to Tell You posted at OptimistLab.com.

John Hill presents What Is Spirituality? and Synchronicity Explained posted at Universe Of Success.

Sundance presents Faith posted at A Girl Named Sundance.

John presents Seeking Change and Openness posted at Open-Secrets.

Pi presents Definition of Karma posted at Obtusely, saying, “”I have always had an issue with the notion of ‘karma’ and how it is popularly defined. Karma is widely seen as acts or actions that play major roles in the universal cause and affect game. I sometimes like to call that the accountant’s view of the universe…” This is my retake on that definition in an attempt to reveal a deeper truth about the universe.”

Misc. Yet Still Cool Posts That Didn’t Easily Fit In Elsewhere

Eduardo Zambrano presents My life would be better if? posted at The Way of It.

TherapyDoc presents Courage posted at Everyone Needs Therapy, saying, “This one really is more of the day dreaming variety. Maybe it’s not so off track, however. Maybe it is.”

Malachi Rothschild presents a poem called “It’s been two months”, posted at V’HeChadash Yitkadesh, saying, “A poem about inner growth.”

Brandone Peele presents An Open Letter to My Parents at his awesome blog, Generative Transformation.