Sleep Mentations and Other Cognitive Realities

Abstract

Humans have long been interested in the alteration of their consciousness. They have done so through a variety of means, including external chemicals, physical stressors and mental disciplines. Humans have also taken great care to pay attention to their dreams’ actions in which regularly provides an altered state in which the experience inadvertently interacts with their so called subconscious. No matter what path individuals take to reach these altered states, the states themselves bear striking similarities to one another. By understanding the baseline connections between the disassociation (change in normal consciousness) of individuals in both dreams and in the use of drugs, one may be able to understand the waking consciousness better or conscious altered type disorders. In the past, few researchers have suggested the connection between psychedelics and dreams, but due to lack in technological they were unable to test humans for such indigenous psychoactive drugs. Theses purposed hypothesis are becoming more and more popular as new technology and further research into the reasons for sleep and its chemical relationship to our minds become supported.
 
An Indigenous Hallucinogen the Possible Cause of Dreaming

 The reasons why we dream when we sleep has been a long debated question. Throughout history many theories have come into play, such as Sigmund Freud explaining dreaming as the sub consciousness expressing its repressed emotions (Hobson, 2002).Yet the question still arises of why dreams are so vivid, creative, and full of almost unexplainable confusing events.  Methods have been suggested to explain these phenomena by means of endogenous hallucinogens that are naturally produced by the body (Callaway, 1988). This relationship could be better explained by an identification of other correspondence within dreaming and hallucinogens. Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is one such hallucinogen as it’s indigenously produced in all mammals. Large amounts of DMT have been found to be produced by the lungs as well as the brain (Strassman et al., 2009).
The reasons for the production of DMT are unknown, but it has been hypothesized that dream states as well as altered forums of consciousness followed by visual that rely on the senses of the eyes and psychical hallucinations that rely on the tactile senses, are explained because of DMT as well. Because of the identification of DMT and its correspondence to the experiences that occur during intoxication, DMT is a quality candidate for the dreaming state that occurs during sleep (Callaway, 1988). In order to understand why DMT is such a high candidate for the dreaming state we need to understand the chemical processes that take place during sleep modualation and their relationship to DMT.

Sleep Modulation

 The mind prepares the body for sleep about 12 hours prior to the actual initiation of sleep onset (Barrett & McNamara, 2007). This transition is controlled by what is called the circadian rhythm, a brainstem-controlled mechanism for keeping time, heartbeat, heat control, and many other automatic functions (Barrett & McNamara, 2007). The one aspect of circadian rhythm that deals mainly with sleep is temperature control (Barrett & McNamara, 2007). Temperature control during the 24 hours cycle of the circadian rhythm allows our core temperature to change from cold to hot or hot to cold depending on the phase in the 24 hour cycle (Barrett & McNamara, 2007). During sleep onset our circadian rhythm automatically lowers the body’s core temperature using the body as a radiator. This change in temperature is one of the first signs of brainstem activation which precedes further activation and deactivation of specific brain areas during the 5 sleep stages. This process is later talked about in the activation deactivation section of this paper. The decrease in body temperature is greatly supported by the production of melatonin synthesized in the pineal gland in the brain (Callaway, 1988; Strassman, 2001) and shows that in relation to circadian rhythm, melatonin supports peak core body temperature drop at early morning hours when melatonin levels are highest (Strassman, 2001). Secretions of melatonin into the hypothalamus help in sustaining this process (Cramer, Rudolph, Consbruch, & Kendel, 1974). Sleep modulation specifically is broken up into two categories: Non-REM (NREM) and REM. NREM is broken up into 4 different stages: drowsiness, light sleep, deep sleep, and delta waves. REM represents the last of the sleep phases as stage 5 or Rapid Eye Movement (Yuschak, 2006). These phases are graphically depicted in figure 1.

<Figure 1>

Determining when these stages start and stop is an extremely difficult process since each phase transitions flawlessly into the next and sometimes seems similar to each other. One extremely complex stage of sleep, where the majority of our definition of dreaming comes from, is the REM stage. Although 80% of sleep is spent in the NREM phase (Barrett & McNamara, 2007), a particular amount of attention should be spent on the REM stage and transitional phases to REM since that is where the majority of dream like induced hallucinations occur and when melatonin along with other chemicals are produced in the highest amounts (Callaway, 1988).

Once activated by the circadian rhythm and supported by melatonin production, the brainstem starts to modulate the brain through physical activation or deactivation of specific areas (Hobson, 2002). These same changes that happen during the sleep transition of NREM to REM are apparent in the onset of all forms of altered consciousness as they ultimately rely on the brainstem for any physical changes in the brain (Hobson, 2002). This brainstem activation either modulates or demodulates different area of the brain depending on what type of activation signal is represented; either by external or indigenous chemical induction (Hobson, 2002).

Possibly one of the most complex stages of our sleep is REM. REM is characterized by the rapid side to side movement of the eyes and the paralysis experienced by the sleeper from the chin down (Yuschak, 2006). Rapid eye movement and dreaming is not limited only to the REM stage but is also experienced during the last stages of NREM or the transitional phase between NREM and REM. The average person experiences 25% of their dreams during the transition from NREM to REM (Hobson, 2002). NREM dreams are described by patients that experience them as less vivid and shorter than those experienced during REM sleep. The differences in intensity of dreams between these stages are attributed to the amount of time spent in sleep, or the length of time the brain has had to produce dream related chemicals. The processes of activation and deactivation of specific parts of the brain during NREM and REM transitions are graphically depicted in figure 2.

 <Figure 2>

Activation and Deactivation

The transition from NREM to REM is described by Allen Hobson and Robert McCarley in their proposed hypothesis of activation synthesis as a process of modulation and demodulation of specific areas of the brain in which dreams are produced (Barrett & McNamara, 2007; Hobson, 2002). This activation synthesis hypothesis builds its foundation on the concepts produced by the REM Dream Theory. In REM Dream Theory, specific neurotransmitters acetylcholine (ACh) and histamine REM on, as well as serotonin REM off cause either modulation or demodulation of the brainstem (Hobson, 2002). The activation synthesis theory states that during the transitional phase between NREM and REM sleep, the brainstem has already systematically deactivated the aminergic systems, which disengages the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and blocks muscle motor function via the pontine brainstem’s deactivation of the anterior horn cells. The now deactivated aminergic system results in the loss of the ability to process new memories, cognitive functions of the ego, and the paralysis that inhibits the acting out of dreams (Hobson, 2002). This deactivation accounts for the common occurrence of amnesia that many people experience during sleep, the inability to understand self and to recognize the bizarreness of dreams, as well as the inability to move which has been experienced by some lucid dreamers, night terror patients, and narcoleptic patients (Hobson, 2002) (Lucidology, 2008; Richard, 2006). This modulation of specific areas of the brain is due to the increase in acetylcholine and results from the activation of the cholergenic REM on system (Hobson, 2002).

Using Hobson’s activation synthesis theory as a model, we can understand the reasons for the type of dreams that are experienced during NREM phase 2, and REM stage 5 of sleep. We can also produce a theory of why dreams occur during sleep, due to the chemical process that occurs during sleep. These occurrences may be explained by the remarkable correlation between the pineal gland and the synthesis of specific neurotransmitters that may contain psychoactive properties.



Dreams and the Pineal Gland

Neurotransmitters are the basic communication tool between neurons as well as activators and deactivators of multiple functions. During sleep, a large amount of these neurotransmitters are being replenished in the form of serotonin. Not one neurotransmitter completes only one function, on the contrary they sometimes complete functions that are in opposition of each other and brain function, competing for a completed task (Hobson, 2002). The more research is conducted on sleep and dreams the easier it is to understand how complex and integrated with neurotransmitter function sleep really is. In dealing with sleep and dreams we can break neurotransmitters into two basic groups - the aminergic system, comprised of the neurotransmitters dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin, as well as the cholinergic system, composed of the neurotransmitters acetylecholine, and histamine. The process of how the aminergic and cholinergic systems function in sleep can be described as a REM-on and REM-off type switch (Hobson, 2002).

The pineal gland is a chemical production factory, either producing melatonin or serotonin depending on the presence of absence of light. In this process, light source information is relayed from the eyes via the optic nerves and results in the activation of synthesizers that either produces melatonin in the absence of light or serotonin in the presence of light, becoming the brains largest producer of serotonin. Also in the absence of light, other process are continued as melatonin is then processed into tryptamine and pinoline. Pinoline is a beta-carbolin called 6-Methoxytetrahydro-beta-carboline and acts as a monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor (MAOI) which in turn allows for the increases concentrations of serotonin (Callaway, 1988). The synthesis of tryptamines and pinoline is most dominate during the REM stage of sleep but also shows partial activation during NREM phases 2 as well as during highly stressful situations in animal and human lives (Strassman, 2001). In relation these stressful events, dreams also turn out to occur during this time. Some beta-carbolines and tryptamines have also been known to cause psychedelic hallucinations as they deal directly with brainstem modulation (Hobson, 2002; Callaway, 1988). Melatonin has also been reported as having hallucinogenic effects on the brain; however, recent studies have shown negative evidence of such a relationship and that the further chemical breakdown of the beta-carbolines and tryptamines from melatonin are the results of these experiences (Cramer, et al., 1974; Strassman, 2001). The buildup of these two known types of hallucinogens in the form of pinoline and tryptamines could easily explain the visual mentations experienced during specific pineal gland stimulation. Blinding of the nerve fibers from cervical ganglion and the pineal causing inactivation of the melatonin process has been suggested as a way to reduced waking hallucinations in schizophrenic syndromes and shows support towards the pineal glands involvement in dreams (Maurizi, 1985). The processes of chemical conversion inside the pineal gland during different stages of sleep and light interaction are graphically depicted in figure 3.



<Figure 3>

 Pineal Location in Relation to the Brain

The location of the pineal gland is also very important in supporting how an indigenous psychedelic excretion from this gland would cause the described effects of dreaming. The pineal gland is located directly over the colliculi and is surrounded by the limbic system (Strassman, 2001). If hallucinogenic chemicals excreted from the pineal gland, the result could be a barrage of emotional thoughts with respect to the involvement of the limbic system and a combination of audio and visual alterations in the colliculi experienced during dreaming. Due to the position of the pineal gland, blood flow is not necessary for the transfer of hallucinogens to the regions of the brain most affected. It can be assumed then, a type of dreaming could occur at the point of death in the patient and possibly explaining out of body experiences and other religious experiences due to the interaction of the pineal produced chemicals and the brain.

The question still presents itself of what indigenous tryptamine based psychedelic would produce such dreams since beta-carboline pinoline may be psychedelic in nature but most likely not potent enough to cause full blown psychedelic experiences as experienced in dreams. It has been hypothesized that the indigenous psychedelic Di-methyle-trypamine (DMT) and LSD-25 could be the answer (Shulgin & Shulgin, 1991).
DMT, LSD-25, and Other Psychedelics

 
Understanding the different key precursors needed to make indigenous DMT and LSD-25 is an important part in understanding why the pineal gland has been selected as a possible production tool for tryptamine based psychedelics. The pineal gland, in addition to having its serotonin production properties also has the highest concentration of serotonin in the body (Strassman, 2001). Methyltransferases are necessary enzymes that have the ability to convert serotonin, melatonin, or tryptamine into psychedelics by methylating them (Strassman, 2001). Pinoline as well as other beta-carbolines may support this process by inhibiting the breakdown and extending the effects of tryptamine based psychedelics. With the abundance of serotonin, the transforming based methyltransferases, and the amplification ability of beta-carbolines, the pineal gland is one of the most logical places for indigenous DMT synthesis (Strassman, 2001). Also chemically similar to melatonin is LSD-25, which relates specifically to the activity on the raphe nucleus (a control center for serotonin release) (Maurizi, 1985; Hobson, 2002). Few studies into the relationship of the formation of DMT or LSD-25 in the pineal gland have been conducted; however, indigenous DMT has still been found in the lungs and brain of humans.

Though DMT, LSD-25, and other psychedelic drugs are similar in structure, the effects of these drugs are sometimes dramatically different. These differences are based on the individual as well as the environment of the individual taking the drug. A few instances have occurred where the same psychedelic trip has been described by different people taking the same drug. The amount of drug administered is also another key factor in how the effects of the drugs will be experienced. Dreams seem to follow the same trend as psychedelic as they are normally random and differ in intensity from dream to dream and person to person as well as setting. Vividness as well as intensity of the dream also increases with the amount of sleep the individual receives. This is due to the longer lengths of REM sleep as well as if they have a fully active pineal gland. With these common experiences, it is easy justify a relationship between dreams, psychedelic experiences, and the pineal gland.

Discussion
Using psychedelic experiences as a model for dreams we can explore the effects of altered states of mind while subjects are fully conscious. Further research into this field could give scientist a better understanding of the subconscious minds true intent in altered states as well as possibly answering the question of why dreams occur. Research into understanding the true purpose of the pineal gland and its production of indigenous tryptamine based psychedelics may also help in understanding sleep disorders such as night terrors, sleep paralysis, and narcolepsy. This type of research should be conducted in a controlled environment to increase manipulation of the dependent variables and maximizing the authority of such research. Development of more sensitive testing assay for indigenous psychedelic drugs allowing for baseline values in normal patients should be developed before future research is conducted.

Though DMT is a great candidate for the explanation of why dreams occur, there is still little correlative data that can support this theory.  In Callaway’s article, he proposes that further research be conducted on the levels of beta-carbolines in the spinal fluid during the sleep wake cycles (Callaway, 1988). Another suggestion by Strassman has been to measure DMT levels in the blood during the same sleep wake cycles; however no accurate measurement tool has been created (Strassman et al., 2009). Currently, measurement tools are being researched and created by a group of individuals at the Louisiana State University (Onerology, 2009).
 

References
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Figure Captions
Figure 1. Sleep phase and chemical phase conversion of dissociation processes.
Figure 2. Processes of disassociation due to brainstem modulation.
Figure 3. Chemical phase conversion in the pineal gland.