Hypnopompia & Hypnagogia: hypnosis?

 

Hypnopompia & Hypnagogia? Are these two labels related to hypnosis?

Actually, no. They relate to an interesting phenomenon that associated with Aphantasia: an inability to see images in the mine's eye. Hypnopompia, a term coined by researcher Rederic Myers, refer to images from dreams that sometimes float in the brain of individualswith Aphantasia. If this occurs, it typically does so during the time between moving from a sleep to an awake state. On the other hand, some individuals with Aphantasia experience this phenomenon during the time between moving from an awake to a sleep state. Known as Hypnagogia, it is the mirror of Hypnopompia.

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Aphantasia Study

A study of Aphantasia at the University of New South Wales in Australia was conducted with more than 200 individuals without aphantasia who had participated in the research group's previous experiments. Between 60-80% of the individuals without aphantasia could see the images used in their minds eye. The individuals with aphantasia never could see any of the images. It’s not good or bad, just different. In fact, not being able to produce internal mental pictures of disturbing events might enable people with aphantasia to live more in the present moment. Internal mental picturing can be distracting and even disturbing and is frequently experienced by individuals with PTDS. For example, experiencing too much visual imagery from the past can be not only distracting but even disturbing and is frequently experienced by people with post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Hyperphantasia

Think of Phantasia as a continuum or a spectrum. At one end, some people cannot achieve any internal mental imaging. At the other end of the continuum, some people have the opposite of aphantasia. It is known as hyperphantasia. Approximately10-13% of people have a hyper-vivid imagination. In between are brains that can and do imagine something and create it in their mind’s eye and can recall images of things they have seen. The ability may be sharper and more vivid for some individuals than others. There appears to be quite a wide spectrum among human brains ranging from aphantasia to hyperphantasia. All forms have their  pros and cons.

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Aphantasia Study

A study of Aphantasia at the University of New South Wales in Australia was conducted with more than 200 individuals without aphantasia who had participated in the research group's previous experiments. Between 60-80% of the individuals without aphantasia could see the images used in their minds eye. The individuals with aphantasia never could see any of the images. It’s not good or bad, just different. In fact, not being able to produce internal mental pictures of disturbing events might enable people with aphantasia to live more in the present moment. Internal mental picturing can be distracting and even disturbing and is frequently experienced by individuals with PTDS. For example, experiencing too much visual imagery from the past can be not only distracting but even disturbing and is frequently experienced by people with post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Aphantasia

What in the world is Aphantasia? I heard some people have it. but I did not understand the explanation. How would I know if I have it?

Aphantasia is described as an inability to form mental images of objects that are not present. Think of the word fantasy. Imagine what sleeping beauty looks like at Disneyland. What do you see in your mind’s eye? Imagine that the early morning sun is shining on the Empire State Building in New York City. What do you see in your mind’s eye. Imagine the face of a person you love dearly. What do you see in your mind’s eye? "if counting sheep is an abstract concept, or you are unable to visualize the faces of loved ones, you could have aphantasia. An estimated 1-3% of human beings see nothing in their imagination or mind’s eye.

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Eugenics – 5

Recent articles from the American Society of Human Genetics is raising increasing awareness of these issues. If you are interested in the pros and cons discussions, there are multiple resources on the Internet. 

Here are two examples.

 https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Eugenics-and-Scientific-Racism

Eugenics: Definition, Movement & Meaning - HISTORY - HISTORY

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Eugenics – 4

Negative Eugenics included Hitler’s reported “euthanasia” of upwards of a quarter of a million mentally ill individuals in Germany as a way to save money currently being spent on caring for those individuals who were believed inferior and a burden on society. This position expanded as the Nazis adopted and promulgated eugenics to justify their treatment of disabled individuals, the Jews, and other minority groups. Eugenics gradually earned a negative association mainly from Adolf Hitler and his genocide, and master-race theories. In 1933, the Nazis created the Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring, which resulted in thousands of forced sterilizations. By 1940, Hitler’s master-race mania took a terrible turn as hundreds of thousands of Germans with mental or physical disabilities were killed by gas or lethal injection. According to Dan Seigman, Eugenics’ reputation never recovered. More tomorrow. 

Eugenics – 3

In the US, John Harvey Kellogg, of Kellogg’s cereal fame, organized the Race Betterment Foundation in 1911 and established a “pedigree registry.” The foundation hosted national conferences on eugenics in 1914, 1915 and 1928. As the concept of eugenics took hold, prominent citizens, scientists and socialists championed the cause and established the Eugenics Record Office. The office tracked families and their genetic traits, claiming most people considered unfit were immigrants, minorities or poor. The Eugenics Record Office also maintained there was evidence that supposed negative family traits were caused by bad genes, not racism, economics, or the social views of the time. More tomorrow.

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Eugenics – 2

In 1883 in England, Darwin’s Cousin, Francis Galton, coined the term "eugenics" to describe the idea of modification of natural selection through selective breeding for the improvement of humankind. Galton came up with the word from a Greek word, Eugenes, meaning “good in birth” or “Good in stock.” Eugenics was said to be a method of promoting reproduction by individuals with ostensibly superior traits—supposedly as a way to improve the human race, and that society should promote the marriage of what he felt were the fittest individuals by providing monetary incentives. Eugenics provided two approaches, one positive and one negative. Positive eugenics promoted the breeding of good stock by careful selection of marriage and breeding partners. Negative eugenics had the goal of prohibiting marriage and breeding between so-called defective stock. More tomorrow. 

Eugenics

Recently in passing I heard someone use the word Eugenics, but I don’t understand what that means. Is it related to Epigenetics?

 Epigenetics and Eugenics are unrelated. Epigenetics describes everything that is not genetics as related to lifestyle and life experiences that impact each human being. According to the dictionary, Eugenics is the practice or advocacy of controlled selective breeding of human populations (as by sterilization) to improve the population's genetic composition. Eugenics encompasses ways in which to arrange reproduction within a human population to increase the occurrence of what are called desirable characteristics. It has been defined as the scientifically erroneous and immoral theory of racial improvement through planned breeding. More tomorrow

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Autism Study

Using electroencephalogram (EEG), researchers recorded the brain waves of children ages 6-16 years of age with and without autism as they watched videos of multiple dots of differing colors that were arranged to look like a person. The movement of the dots represented actions such as funning, kicking, jumping, turning in different directions or jumbled so they no longer moved like a person would move. Researchers asked the study participants to focus on the color of the dots. When they followed this instruction, they failed to process the dots when they moved like a person. A decrease in processing body movements means they might have more difficulty understanding others and need to consciously learn to pay more attention to body language in order to see it. Learning this potentially can help children with autism spectrum disorders.

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Autism & Distractions

Studies by researchers at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester in NY, reported that children with autism spectrum disorders may not process body movements as effectively as do those who are not on the spectrum. This is especially true if the child is distracted by something else. According to Emily Knight, M.D., Ph.D., first author of the study that was recently published in Molecular Autism, “Our findings suggest that when children with autism are distracted by something else, their brains process the movements of another person differently” than their peers do who are not on the spectrum. I found the experiment itself quite interesting. More tomorrow.

Body Language

Is picking up body-language cues really helpful to communication??

What a good question! Being able to pick up on body-language cues is a vital and important part of enhancing human communication and understanding. For example, noticing when another person frowns, leans into a conversation across the table or learns back and crosses their arms, or when a person takes a step back or stiffens up or turns partly away from you when you have extended your arms for a hug, or put out your hand for a handshake can help you moderate or alter your communication. How skilled are you at paying attention to the body language of individuals with whom you are having a conversation? More tomorrow.

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Autism & Genetic Contributions

 

I was told that Autism was genetic. Is it really?

Autism Spectrum Disorders appear to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental contributors. A very recent study found that “Where and when grandparents and parents of children were born could contribute to an increased risk of ASD in their offspring.”An article in Genome Medicine reported, “There is strong evidence that genetic factors make substantial contributions to the etiology of autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorders, with heritability estimates being at least 80% for each.” Fairly recent research has identified that some brain conditions—Autism Spectrum, for example—may link to paternal line inheritances from several generations back. You might find it interesting to read about that.

 https://neurosciencenews.com/autism-location-time-22242/

Autism & Generational Links

Is there any reason to do ancestry searches besides just being curious?

 My brain’s opinion is that there may be many reasons to do ancestry searches. In my case, I have been delighted to discover that I have ancestors from multiple countries and that expands my interest in exploring those countries. In addition, I learned about how long some of my ancestors lived, what they did for a living, where music and musical instruments played a part, and on and on. Fairly recent research has identified that some brain conditions—Autism Spectrum, for example—may link to paternal line inheritances from several generations back.

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Laughter Benefits, 4

 

Studies have shown that employees who laugh together ‘stay together,’ work better as a team, are more creative, and produce more work. Outstanding leaders use humor often to reduce stress, enhance brain function, and positively impact their communication. Business woman who can interact easily with male humor are a step ahead of women who don’t. A vigorous laugh burns as many calories per hour as brisk walking or cycling and shakes up major body organs, providing a form of “internal jogging.” 100 mirthful laughs is said to equal 10 min of hard rowing. 10-15 minutes of laughter a day can burn up to 50 calories (e.g., the amount in a small chocolate bar). That could result in losing 4.4. pounds a year

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Laughter Benefits, 3

It is really difficult to remain angry, fearful, or sad, if you can find something humorous to trigger mirthful laughter.

 1)    It costs nothing.

       2)     It requires no prescription.

        3)     It burns calories but is calorie free itself

4)     It is cholesterol, fat, sugar, and gluten free.

5)     It is convenient

6)    It is easily accessible triggered by humor or by choice

7)    It can be used anytime with very few or no negative side effects. 

Did Confucius Really Say this?

Those who want a pretty nurse, must be patient.

Passionate kiss, like spider web, leads to undoing of fly.

Lady who goes camping must beware of evil intent.

Squirrel who runs up woman’s leg will not find nuts.

One who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.

One who runs in front of car gets tired,

One who runs behind car gets exhausted.

One who eats many prunes get good run for money.

War does not determine who is right, only who is left.

One who fights with wife all day get no piece at night.

It takes many nails to build a crib, but only one screw to fill it.

One who drives like hell is bound to get there.

Those who stand on toilet are high on pot.

All who live in a glass house should change clothes in basement.

A lion would not cheat on his wife, but a tiger would.

 

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Bumper Stickers

 

1)    Warning: Dates in Calendar are closer than they initially appear

      2)    A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory

      3)    He who laughs last thinks slowest

      4)    Time is what keeps everything from happening at once

5)  there's a will, I want to be in it

6) Time is the best teacher, unfortunately it kills all of its students

7) Dain bramaged                                     

8) Consciousness: That annoying time between naps

9) Why is 'abbreviation' such a long word?

10) If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

Bulletin Bloopers

Most bulletins I’ve seen have read conained some type of blooper. Try these. 

      1)    If you choose to heave during the Postlude, please do so quietly

      2)    Today’s sermon outline: Delineate your fear, Disown your fear, Displace your rear.

      3)    Don't let worry kill you—let this church help!

 4)    Thank you to our Head Deacon and Dead Deaconess for preparing this month’s Communion.

5)    Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet next Thursday at 7 pm - please enter by the back door.

6)    The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

7)    Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

8)    Last Sunday the Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours."

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Laughter Benefits, 2

 Mirthful laughter triggers the brain to release endorphins, the brain’s natural morphine. Endorphins can decrease aches and pains and increase your tolerance to pain in general. Mirthful laughter also increases the activity of Natural Killer cells. According to Philipp Eissmann, Imperial College in London, United Kingdom, Natural Killer Cells were first noticed for their ability to kill tumor cells without any priming or prior activation. Natural Killer Cells continually patrol the body—if the immune system is working properly. When a cell that doesn’t belong in the body is identified, Natural Killer Cells can “take them out. Literally. In additional to targeting tumor cells, they also help to fight viruses that cause colds and the flu.

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Learned Humor

My mother liked limericks and taught me to like them. Here are two of my favorites. “There once was a farmer named Hall, who fell in the spring in the fall. ‘Twould have been a sad thing had he died in the spring. He didn’t, he died in the fall.” “There once was a guy named Hyde who fell in the outhouse and died. Unfortunately, his brother fell in the other, and now they’re interred side-by-side.” She also taught me to like daffynitions. You know, word sounds that can have more than one definition. 

·       Coffee, someone who is coughed upon

·       Crackerjack, a device for lifting biscuits

·       Ignorant, to totally disregard an insect

·       Melancholy, a strangely shaped dog

·       Pasteurize, too far to see

·       Reincarnation, to be born again as a tin of condensed milk

·       Relief, what trees do in spring

·       Kindred, fear of one's own family

·       Scandal, footwear you should be ashamed of

·       Testicle, an amusing exam question

·       Zebra, the largest size of an important support garment

·       Vigilante, a very observant aunt.

Airline Announcements

Humor abounds on or above planet earth. For example, I have taken a great many airline flights and pay attention to the announcements.

1) There may be 50 ways to leave your lover but there are only 4 ways out of this plane.

2) Shortly we will begin our food service. s
erve refreshments. Please remember that we are in the airline business, not the food business.

3) Please make sure you take all your belonging with you. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Under no circumstances leave children or spouses behind—take them with you!

4) Please notice that we are 10 minutes early. So, the next time we are 60 minutes late, we’ll just call it even.

5) Sorry about the bumpy landing. It’s not the captain’s fault. It’s not the co-pilot’s fault. It’s the asphalt.

6) We’ll be landing as soon as we get closer to the ground.

7) Welcome aboard this Southwest flight to Denver. We will be taking off just as soon I get through page 10 of this flight manual.

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