As many continue to wonder if there is a way to control one’s dreams, the DREAM: ON app may be something to check out. Although it is still in the experimental stages, you have to wonder if there is such a thing as being able to control your dreams.

British Psychology Professor Richard Wiseman is doing a research on such and is collaborating with Yuza to do it. With the hopes of recruiting about 10,000 participants, his experiment aims to find out what controls individual dreams and how they can influence own dreams to get the most restful sleep possible.

With the app, a participant indicates the type of dream he would want to experience and when they want to wake up. They will have to place their phones next to their head though before they go to sleep and the app will do the rest.

When the app senses they are dreaming, it plays a carefully designed ‘SoundScape’ to help create the desired effect (dream). If you are curious about this app, you can download it for free over at iTunes and give it a try.

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“During REM sleep, memories are being reactivated, put in perspective and connected and integrated, but in a state where stress neurochemicals are beneficially suppressed.”

Apparently it all boils down to the dreams you get when you sleep, something that cannot evidently hurt you.

To study this, researches split 35 people into two groups. They showed each the same emotion-triggering photos, then allowed one group to sleep. They showed each group the photos again. The electrical brain activity of each group was recorded with electroencephalograms (or EEG), including during sleep.

Those who slept showed a decrease in activity in the amygdala, which is the part of the brain that processes emotion.

Sounds neat ey? Well, the next time you break it off with your mate or are troubled for some reason, sleep on it. Maybe the dreams can ease the burden and pain out of it!

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Soldiers are susceptible to trauma, something that is easily traced to the environment that they are normally exposed to. Apparently a lot of soldiers have become casualties of war, reaching an extent to which many call as them possibly reaching a “cuckoo” state which perhaps only military personnel can easily adapt to.

But if this new program called the Power Dreaming project pushes through, then soldiers may yet get the help that they need. This is actually another form of bio feedback mechanism that aims to counteract nightmares which are prevalent for combat veterans.

The hope is that these “power dreams” can be watched from laptops and “home training and 3-D goggles work to gradually enhance the strength of these new neurological images,” according to the presentation that outlines the program’s aims.

Sort of reminds you about the Inception movie a bit eh?

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For anyone who sleeps, dreams will be there. But the thing is, are they in color or black and white? Seems like a question for TV geeks but seriously, it seems that dreams may come in color or black and white for people, if they can remember them that is.

Apparently a journal called Dreaming asked some people about their dreams. 80% of the younger portion said they got colored dreams while the older ones either couldn’t remember or had them in black and white. And since we did mention that this study seems to be somewhat connected to television, it looks like the study leaned more towards watching colored TV as the main reason.

These days, all of us practically enjoyed colored TV sets. And if you think about it, the logic behind it may be the fact that the old folks were around when the era of black and white TV sets were around.

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It has been a common belief that counting sheep can put you to sleep. That was before. Today however it seems that this is not as effective. Thanks to some researchers over at the Oxford University, trying to count sheep, imagine a peaceful scene, or go about their usual pre-sleep routine was conducted. While counting sheep can still make you sleep, it seems that it took a longer time to set in. Worst, it seems to have a bad effect.

Oxford researchers concluded that the activity doesn’t take up “sufficient cognitive space” within the brain to distract from other thoughts. In other words, counting sheep is so repetitive and boring that most people who try to do it don’t last long enough to see any success.

So if that doesn’t work, what does? Well you can try these things out:

• Make lists in your head
• Focus on your breathing and connect it to counting
• Imagine Yourself Focus on your breathing and connect it to counting
• Focus on tightening and relaxing every muscle group in your body

See which works for your and let us know!

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Dreams have drawn various conclusions. Some say they are subconscious states while others claim they are a parallel straight of awareness. Others call them an emotional state drawn from what we have already encountered prior to sleep while others call it something as an omen. Which is which? There is no specific explanation for dreams. Scientists continue to debate on its frugality. But analyzing dreams is perhaps the closest we can get.

The latest analysis is that of tagging dreams as a physiological. The brain is warming its circuits, anticipating the sights and sounds and emotions of waking. And as always there are objections. Many have their own presumptions and no one is bound to agree to claim that his own findings are false. Which do we believe? One thing is for sure, it is a different state. Some even call it the state where we go when we die. If there is a safe conclusion, it is perhaps the fact that we all have our own beliefs and while science is intervening, you can bet that a lot of debate will continue.

(Source) NY Times

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For sure some of us have had some episodes on wanting to get up from bed but fail to do so? Why is that? Some say it is the inability to move certain parts of the body which many relate to sleep paralysis. Apparently some people have had their experiences and if you want a scientific explanation from it, you may want to associate it with Rapid Eye Movement (REM). REM sleep intrudes into wakefulness, so if you don’t immediately click out of REM sleep and wake up, then you may continue to have this paralysis.

Hence it would be best to get some special help regarding this condition. Apparently you will be frightened about being temporarily paralyzed. There are explanations but to remedy it, sleep experts are the best people to teach you how.

(Source) Stuff

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We all have our own types of dreams. But while that is a given, it is apparent that some dreams stand for something. They carry certain representations both as a whole and in detail. By detail we mean parts of the home such as the bedroom, kitchen and the living room.

So if you suddenly dream of a house, here are some dream interpretations you may find handy:

• An open front gate or door displays a sense of openness and invitation—perhaps to opportunity or a relationship.
• A locked gate or door is just the opposite and signals unconscious awareness of a blocked path.
• The attic, situated at the highest point, represents the contents of the mind and reflects intellect, curiosity, aspiration.
• Bedrooms usually imply places of peace and serenity, but also of sexual energy.
• Bathrooms are the designated spaces we engage in acts of purification.
• The living room is the familial center of home life.
• Kitchens represent the treasured place of food preparation and consumption. It’s here that the individual and family’s needs are met through provision of much needed sustenance.

So there you have it. Believe it or not, well it’s totally up to you. But at least now you have some basis for finding out what your dreams are actually telling you.

(Source) Examiner

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Cheap and reasonable. That is what best describes the Sony Dream Machine which is nothing like the fancy clocks we see in the market today. Besides, it only costs $20 so don’t expect too much perks.

The Sony Dream Machine ICF-C414 may be short on frills, but it’s a Sony and it’s $20, so you could do worse. Anyway, I have to admit there’s something I like about the way this thing combines a kind of cold, menacing design with the words “Dream Machine.” It’s like a Nihilist with a unicorn tattoo.

The Sony ICF-C414 Dream Machine alarm clock will be available starting in April 2009.

(Source) CNet

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Perhaps this logic comes from the common understanding that when you sleep, it means your brain is resting. And when you are resting it allows you to properly digest what had transpired as well as current events on a clear mind.

In research published this week in Neuron, Marcos Frank, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, postdoctoral researcher Sara Aton, PhD, and colleagues describe for the first time how cellular changes in the sleeping brain promote the formation of memories.

“This is the first real direct insight into how the brain, on a cellular level, changes the strength of its connections during sleep,” Frank says.

The findings, says Frank, reveal that the brain during sleep is fundamentally different from the brain during wakefulness.

(Source) Examiner

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We have heard of sleep walking but now sleep driving? It is indeed hard to believe, getting up from you bed and then driving your car unconsciously. However, there are reports that there are people who do suffer from the said sleep disorder and most trace it to sleep drugs like Ambien and Lunesta.

Ambien is not the only sleeping pill that may lead to bizarre behavior. According to the ad for Lunesta, “After taking Lunesta, you may get up out of bed while not being fully awake and do an activity that you do not know you are doing. The next morning, you may not remember that you did anything during the night. … Reported activities include: driving a car (‘sleep-driving’), making and eating food, talking on the phone, having sex, sleep-walking.”

Weird or not, people who rely heavily on sleeping pills like Ambien and Lunesta should beware. You just don’t know when you may wake up in the hospital. Worst, not wake up at all.

(Source) Courant.com

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Aside from trying to remember what you dreamt about (assuming that you have slept soundly) other forms of trying to interpret dreams can be hard to do if you don’t have the right equipment and resources to determine just what they exactly mean.

Dream interpretation has been something many are curious about but no one really focused on it in general. We relied on books like the ones by Sigmund Freud, but now it seems that science is trying to intervene to shed more light towards what dreams really mean.

“By applying this technology, it may become possible to record and replay subjective images that people perceive like dreams.” The mapping of dreams is possible because “While looking at an object that the eye’s retina is able to recognize an image, which is converted into electrical signals sent into the brain’s visual cortex.”

(Source) Associated Content

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No one knows what sudden change of odors may soon set on the place where you are sleeping. It can be your room or perhaps outdoors when you decide to rough it. Either way, did you know that these aroma issues have a bearing on what you can potentially dream about once you doze off?

Just take the whole idea of bad odors in the simplest way and perhaps you could perceive that you are in for something bad when you sleep. It may sound fictitious but not according to the German researchers who have found that sleepers exposed to an unpleasant smell will have negative dreams.

Because our sense of smell involves such a sensitive and neurologically complex function, and because it’s so powerful in its influence on our behavior, it’s not surprising at all that so many scientists have studied the effect of different scents on emotion, memory, appetite, energy, and sexual arousal.

So the next time around, try to do something about an unpleasant odor. It can make a difference between nightmares and sound sleep.

(Source) The Body Odd

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When we sleep, we are susceptible to various kinds of things that go around in our dreams. Normally for some reason, we are given sign and signals on what to do. This includes business. To most, it may seem as foolish and fictitious but for others it can do wonders.

While some may call it a sudden burst of idea, perhaps one good explanation is that when we sleep, we are relaxed and not under pressure. Further, before we hit the sack, chances are we have had a certain business issue in mind and normally it can be carried onto us even in our sleep. So the result may be guides on what and what not to do.

A lot of people have benefited from it and perhaps many more entrepreneurs can get the same tip if they are thinking of what business to put up. Crazy but it can work and you have nothing to lose!

Alan Stafford, an executive coach and self-described “sleepworker” interviewed by Fortune Small Business, offers tips on how entrepreneurs can boost their creative and problem-solving juices during sleep, such as identifying business problems that need to be solved right before falling asleep, waking up slowly instead of with an alarm clock and keeping a dream journal on the nightstand.

(Source) Wall Street Journal

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When we sleep, we dream of a lot of things. They may not always be immediately associated with what we have just been through. Some of them go as far as our childhood days, reflecting and reminiscing about the past to which some people may find comfort when they sleep.

But there are also dreams that account for current events. Especially when a person is sleeping with something in mind, chances are he will be recalling certain events that have not yet been resolved.

Between the two, a lot can be pointed towards our mental state. Our minds are at work and whatever we have stored there that may be disturbing us will always be the first thing that comes to mind. The reason behind this is that there is a part of our brain that is still conscious. It can be typified to a sort of lack of relaxation to which we tend to address current dilemmas rather than reminisce on the past where we may have a relaxing memory of our good old days.

When we are dreaming, there is a certain part of our mind and being which is aware and conscious, yet some other parts of the brain that are completely at rest. Experts suggest that various types of dreams exist, that range form the dreamer not being in his or her own dream (dreams of childhood) to one where the dreamer is actively reflecting upon the ongoing dream and making deductions and judgments on the events happening in the dream (lucid dreams). This is an interesting lead to the contemplation about the distinction between dreams and reality.

(Source) Brain Blogger

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Today, inflation is an obvious presence and for most of us today, it is apparent that we will be forever thinking and staying up late to think of alternative to survive in this world that has gone beyond borders. Businesses are faltering one after the other and for the modern businessman, unless you act quickly, chances are you will lose a lot of things including sleep.

The key towards good sleep is to be able to lay on your comfy bed without much to think about. But today, this is a rarity for the breadwinners as we enter an age where financial incapacity pushes us to act further. Apparently we all know that financial survival is something that we all think about everyday so don’t be surprised if in the end, another expense for sleep-related disorders and treatment will soon join our daily expenditures.

”It’s no surprise that professions in the industries worst hit by the credit crunch come top of the charts,” notes director of sleep, Leigh McCarron.

“We all know that money worries and job security are key drivers of stress which in turn, leads to significant sleep loss.”

(Source) Devono

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Dreams can mean something or nothing. To some people, they stand for something like a symbol of things to come. To others they are callings to which they have to address some things which they deem as unfinished business. But overall there would be people who would just plain forget what they dreamt about.

To classify dreams, we can see them in these categories:

1. Guides for believers who want to find out what they mean.
2. Dreams are a calling for people who have to accomplish something
3. Subconscious thoughts stemming from experience
4. No relevance to people who don’t care what dreams they encounter in sleep.

Here is a good sight to visit on Understanding Dreams.

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Colors themes and ultimate designing concepts that are not yet used may eventually be the key towards making people stand out above the rest. Most of these ideas come from times when we are sleeping. However, the problem is at the time when we think of recalling what we dreamt since normally, we would forget these subconscious thoughts which may make a difference.

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The key towards restful slumber is sleeping with positive thinking or freeing thought from any issues that may end up leading people not to sleep. Sleep leads to dreams and to get ideal and comforting dreams, the things running around at the back of the minds of most people need to be on a wonderful aspect rather than forgettable ones.

“Wouldn’t it be great to fall asleep easily, while manifesting positive thoughts through the subconscious? DreamAid, Inc. thought so. Just launched, is a collection of extraordinary Pillow Covers, each designed with a “dream” or “wish” for the person who receives it. They were specifically created to help individuals of all ages, tap into a blissful dream state.

DreamAid Pillow Covers enhance life in a positive manner by actually letting a person sleep on the wish that they desire and erase the stresses of the day. With decorative borders and over 34 inspirational messages such as “Breathe in to Slow Down, Let sleep Turn Things Around” and “Peace, Love, Rest”, there is an appropriate wish for every personality and situation.”

Source: DreamAid Introduces a New Trend in Bedding – Pillow Covers Which Help to Achieve Dreams Through the Power of Positive Thinking

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People often toss and turn to get that right sleeping position but to no avail. While prescribed drugs are perhaps the supposed last resort for people suffering from lack of sleep, this new advent of sleeping soundly and having better dreams may be the answer they are looking for.

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So what is the video commercial trying to tell us? No one can resist the products and services that leading food chains such as McDonalds has to offer and that is a fact especially to the market they are catering to.

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For babies, foams or mattresses are not really the key towards being able to sleep soundly. Sometimes if they get to satisfy that position and overall softness when they lie down, they can openly sleep despite the distractions such as loud snoring, that may hinder their sleep.

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One product that has been getting attention is that of an all natural beverage that helps consumers relax and fall asleep. This and many other healthy all natural products are in the roster of Dreamerz Food and Ruder Finn knows that the partnership will be something worth to address the rapid increase of sleep disorder patients located worldwide.

You can read more about at Dreamerz Foods and Ruder Finn Partner to Promote Healthful Sleep.

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We have all heard of technology becoming an integral part in helping businesses and advancing to the next level today. But in sleeping problems, can technology offer the same advanced solution as well?

There have been a lot of sleeping aids and gadgets offered in the market today but none have come close to providing software aids to pose as an alternative solution towards needed sleep. Pzizz aims to become the alternative solution that can address the sleeping problems of people today with the use of advanced technology. With the uniquely designed modules, people can expect various alternatives and solutions towards the usual sleeping problems known in the world today.

For more information, visit their website and know more about their products at Pzizz Life is Better.

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But when it is time to get up; this is where the fuss begins. People have to decide on who will be first to get up, brush their teeth or just simply take a bath to carry on their day.

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In the Philippines, this is known more commonly as “Bangungot”. A lot of people have experienced this and while there are medical explanations, some Filipinos still point towards overeating and improper digestion of food as key factors that lead to this dreaded traitor in sleeping comfortably.

It is best to take the necessary precautions especially for infants who cannot differentiate night from day. It is best to do the preventive measure to avoid heinous events from occurring.

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Many of us would want to help analyze our dreams and find their actually meaning. While sleeping soundly may be good, people just cannot help wonder what dreams really have in store for them.

We usually find dream interpreters to help us out. But with this video, we can find out that the best one to interpret our dreams is not anyone else but us.

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