The mind.
The memory.
The brain.
These three have more than location in common. In fact, our memories depend on the state of our mind and the function of our brains to process them. Things begin to get a little trickier once you throw in consciousness. You don't have to be a scientist to want to know more about consciousness and what it means in relation to your body and mind. You don't have to be a doctor to want to know how your health and mental state can be manipulated by neurochemicals and/or understood by microscopic natures of neurons. And you don't have to be an artist to appreciate the "tree like butterflies of the soul" illustrated to reveal the harmony between science and art. Ultimately, if you've ever remembered a memory, dreamt a dream, or just had a moment in time where you've questioned the limits of your conscious and unconscious mind - then this topic is perfect for you.
Throughout lecture we learned about the discovery of the conscious state from Aristotle and confirmed its location to be in the brain with the help of Ramon y Cajal and Franz Joseph Gall whom both were able to connect human behaviors to specific locations in the brain. Localized functions if you please. Although everything this week was intriguing and interesting - I have chosen to focus on experimentation as a means to understand what is still being understood and draw light upon our dreams in relation to memories and of course, I can't leave LSD out of this post either.
reams for example, a subject that we know so much about yet don't really understand factually.
Our dreams and memories are intertwined, influencing one another, blurring the conscious mind with the unconscious - creating a secret world of sleep. At some level, we are all aware of our dreams while we're dreaming them (whether we remember them or not.) They can be fragmented, illogical, and sometimes feel VERY real. This ever-changing pattern of dreams is what keeps them from being undefined and only adds to the magic. Many like Freud would claim that dreams are made up of forbidden desires and things we want to materialize in real life while others believe dreams have no preconceived notions and no obvious explanations at all. Personally, I believe that a lot of what happens during my day carries on into my dreams and that they are extensions of my conscious thoughts. The dreams don't need to seem realistic for them to feel very relevant to memories in my mind. Next time you dream, wake up and write down what you remember and I promise you that your memory will help make sense of it.
Next, LSD is just one example of an [illegal[ neurochemical that when used responsibly and purposefully, can enhance all aspects of the conscious and unconscious mind. Albert Hofmann was the first person to synthesize LSD and enter a "dream-like-state" filled with "kaleidoscopic colors" but he was definitely not the last. LSD became one of the strongest drugs in medicine used to remedy mental disorders and cure addictions like alcoholism through psychedelic psychotherapy. Psychedelics are also known to help heal trauma through reflections of unexplored, wounded consciousness.
This new era sparked and enhanced the minds of so many and it is no surprise that some of the most revolutionary, innovative, and highest of heights were able to be reached by individuals whom used LSD on a regular basis. Three prominent people in our history that stood out to me were: Steve Jobs, Ray Charles, and Francis Crick.
Sources:
"Aristotle." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 14 May 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle>.
""Butterflies of the Soul"" The Beautiful Brain. 8 Feb. 2010. Web. 14 May 2016. <http://thebeautifulbrain.com/tag/butterflies-of-the-soul/>.
Lewis, Penelope A. "What Is Dreaming and What Does It Tell Us about Memory? [Excerpt]." Scientific American. 18 July 2014. Web. 14 May 2016. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-dreaming-and-what-does-it-tell-us-about-memory-excerpt/>.
Roberts, Jeff. "The Truth About LSD: Research Reveals Many Therapeutic and Medicinal Benefits." CollectiveEvolution RSS. 8 Nov. 2013. Web. 13 May 2016. <http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/11/08/the-truth-about-lsd-research-reveals-many-therapeutic-and-medicinal-benefits/>.
"The Interpretation of Dreams, 1900 by Freud." The Interpretation of Dreams (1900) by Sigmund Freud. Web. 14 May 2016. <http://www.sigmundfreud.net/the-interpretation-of-dreams.jsp>.
"20 Most Notable LSD Users of All-Time." College Life, News, Sports, Girls & Entertainment. 14 May 2011. Web. 13 May 2016. <http://coed.com/2011/05/14/20-most-notable-lsd-users-of-all-time/>.
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