The Limits of Dream
A Scientific Exploration of the Mind / Brain Interface

Examines the neuroscientific basis of dreams.

J. F. Pagel (Author)

9780123742155, Elsevier Science

Hardback, published 3 June 2008

250 pages
26 x 18.3 x 2.1 cm, 0.74 kg

"Jim Pagel's The Limits of Dream delves into the scientific, philosophical, creative and psychological aspects of this very human phenomenon and manages to be both coherent and consistently interesting. The only other book I've read about dreams told you how to play the horses." --John Sayles, Director, Writer, and Actor"This wonderfully creative book, based on the author's many original studies of sleep and dreams, as well as his masterful knowledge the relevant fields in neuroscience, provides us with a new theory of dreaming as well as a devastating critique of the highly visible but simplistic neurophysiological theories of dreams that have been on the stage for all too long." --G. William Domhoff, Research Professor in Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz"This marvelous book starts from research neuropsychology and blazes on into the intricate beauty and creativities of dream phenomenology and cognition, and all that bridging into film as dream and dream as film. Its breadth and philosophical sophistication are unique in dream studies. It is a major achievement." --Harry T. Hunt, Psychology, Brock University"Dr. Pagel is an extremely well regarded researcher in both the worlds of sleep and of dreams. What he is proposing is quite unique and could be an important "bridging" book between these two domains who have unfortunately had a previous relationship somewhat analogous to one of being water and oil." --Bob van de Castle, University of Virginia Medical Center and former president of the Association for the Study of Dreams

Approx.250 pages

AcknowledgementsPreface Chapter 1 Introduction Body/Mind Dreams as Windows But, Is REM Sleep Dreaming? The Event Horizon The Limits of DreamSection 1 Definitions and the Search for Truth Chapter 2 Mind/Plato’s Cave Descartes Limits of the Cartesian Perspective What is Mind? Definitions Psychoanalytic Approaches Alternative Perspectives Chapter 3 A Dream can be Gazpacho DefinitionsSection 2 The Biological Substrate of Dream Chapter 4 The Neuroanatomy of Dreaming The Neuroanatomy of REMS The Neuropathology of Dreaming The Neuroanatomy of Dreaming Chapter 5 The Neurochemistry of Dreaming REMS Neurochemistry Medications Affecting Sleep Medications Affecting Dreaming Primary Neurotransmitters Affecting Sleep and Dreaming Acetylcholine Norepinephrine Serotonin Dopamine GABA Neurotransmitter Modulating Systems Dreaming and Nightmares: Neurotransmitter Systems Agents Affecting Conscious Interaction with the Environment Anesthetics Agents Affecting Host Defense The Neurochemistry of Dreams and Nightmares Chapter 6 The Electrophysiology of Dreaming The EEG Functional Roles for CNS Electrical Fields Evidence for a Functioning Extracellular Electrical System in the CNS Drug Effects Disease States The Electrophysiology of Dreams Chapter 7 The Complexity of Dreams: Neural networks and Consciousness Biological Applications of Neural Net Theories The Dreams of Neural Networks Complexity of the Biologic System The Limits of Dream Structure The Neurological Substrate of DreamSection 3 Studying the Cognitive Substrate of Dreaming Chapter 8 Dreams and Sleep: The Substrate Hypothesis Dream Recall in Insomnia Insomnia and Nightmare Recall Frequency The Association Between Sleep and Mind Chapter 9 Dreaming and Memory Memory and Dreams Imagery and Intrinsic Memory Dream Recall Dream content EveryDay Memory and Mind Dream Use Memory and Mind Chapter The Brain/Computer Interface Intelligence Artificial Intelligence The Perceptual Interface The Motor Interface Computation and Thought Communication Problem Solving The Capabilities of Artificial SystemsSection 4 The Cognitive Process of Dreaming Chapter 11 Emotions and Dream Frightening Dreams Emotions and Dreaming Emotions and Mind Emotional Dreaming Chapter 12 Exploring the Visual Interface Visual Consciousness The Visual Representation of Space Imagery Dream Imagery Artificial Dream Imagery – Filmmaking Visual Components of Dreaming Chapter 13 Thinking and Dreaming Thinking in Dreams Bizarreness in Dreams Associative Thought in Dreams The Neurological Basis of Thought Thinking and the MindSection 5 The Cognitive Organization of Dreaming What we know The Formal Structure of Dreaming Chapter 14 Hallucinations and Dreams Dream-Like Phenomena Parasomnias and Unusual Dreams Are Dreams Hallucinations? Chapter 15 Dreaming and Storytelling The Narrative Structure of Thought The Mythic Structure of Story Dreams in Literature Dreams in Screenplay The Limits of Dream Imagery The Power of the Story Chapter 16 Film: The Projected Dream Moving Pictures The Visual Language of Film Visual Imagery and Film Apparatus Theory Film TheorySection 6 Functional uses for Dreaming Chapter 17 Creativity The Gestalt of Creativity The Creative Personality Psychoanalytic Creativity Creativity as Divergent Thinking The Disorder of Creativity Dreaming Creatively Chapter 18 Non-Dreaming or the Use of Dreams in Creativity Creativity in the Sleep Laboratory Dream Use and Creative Interest Non-dreamers The Creativity of Non-dreamers Chapter 19 Dream use by Filmmakers Screenwriters and Their Use of Dreams Scriptwriting: The Dream-Like Process Incubating a Screenplay Dream Use by Directors Dream Use by Actors Sundance Interviews: Actors Sundance Questionnaire Responses: Actors Summary Dream Use in the Creative Process Chapter 20 Dreaming and Artists Dream Use in Creativity: Psychopathology Creativity and Dreaming Borders of MindSection 7 Models of Mind and Brain Chapter 21 Models of Mind = Brain Transmission-Line Neuro-Processing AIM Alternative Monist Theories Massively Parallel Neuro-Processing Physiologic CNS Electrical Rhythms Problems with Monists Chapter 22 Mind not Brain: The Cartesian Psychoanalyst Diseases of the Mind: The Psychoanalytic Approach The Limitations of Psychoanalysis in the Diagnosis Treatment of Psychiatric Illness Psychoanalysis and the Structure of Mind Cartesian Psychoanalysis The Psychoanalytic Perspective of Mind The Cartesian Psychoanalyst Chapter 23 Viewing the Border Between Brain and Mind: A Modified Cartesian Perspective Modified Cartesian Models Visualizing the Mind/Brain Border Dreaming Across the Border Chapter 24 The Limits of Dream Brain-Based Correlates of Mind Mind-Based Cognitive Processes The Limits of Knowledge: BordersReferencesIndex

Subject Areas: Neurosciences [PSAN], Neurology & clinical neurophysiology [MJN]