Research
My so-called research is about how ideas of self are learned and some speculations about sleep. I reluctantly use the word research because it denotes too serious a task for most of my musings.
I spent many nights watching a pen on paper moving up and down as it recorded signals (electroencephalogram or EEG) from the brain of a person in the next room. I always thought the signal was far removed from the changes in the cells of the brain to have much relevance to everyday life. But lured by the magical significance of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep identified with dreams--off we galloped on the pony express, delivering the mail which in this instance was money for more studies and limited amount of fame or recognition of some kind. An opportunity to study the sleep of astronauts had a long term benefit for me. Working with Neil Burch and with data from Gemini VII, a .92 correlation between REM sleep EEG patterns and the patterns while going to sleep; this was extended to awakening sleep and dozing. This was followed by an interest in these stages of awake-sleeping. Most of us have experienced at 7 am -- "give myself 5 more minutes" --- and the clock says 7:22. For reality purposes, believe the clock. And survival is an adrenal response [SYNS]. Sleep and the twilight periods are PANS, the participatory periods and emotions that are necessary to let the old pony rest for awhile. In the twilight zone (see "The Twilight Zone") -- the marshland between the pond and the land, the trees are reflected upside down -- and new ways of looking at the world emerge. Cate Blanchett is reported paying attention to twilight sleep. Rod Serling would be proud. The point is: most of us might profit from a bit of a peaceful time warp; of course, mind altering drugs and alcohol do the same but may be accompanied by a judgment warp. Gnosis as a spiritual experience reported by the prophets has similarities. A nap in church may be a spiritual experience. No snoring.
