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The Effects of Drugs
on Dreaming
By Mackenzie Malone
& Dan Rutkowski
Content
 Thesis
 Functions of Sleeping and Dreaming
 How Drugs Affect the Brain
 Drugs Affects on Sleep Patterns
 Alcohol’s Affects
 Ancient Use
 Common Causes
 Drugs That Increase REM Sleep
 Dream Study
 Dreaming & Drugs in Popular Literature
 Sources
Thesis
Drugs and alcohol effect our ability to properly dream which suggests that
we are vulnerable to change in this state of consciousness.
Functions of sleeping and dreaming
Dreams occur during REM sleep, which is the rapid eye movement stage of sleep that begins
after the last stage of deep sleep (Stibich, 2001).
REM sleep is especially important because it stimulates the areas of the brain that are used in
learning and storing memories. (Harris, 2008).
They are necessary to develop and preserve neural pathways and make sense of neural static
in the brain. They also file away memories and reflect cognitive development (Myers,
2011).
Drugs negatively affect our dreams in the way that it interrupts with our natural sleep process.
During this vulnerable state, dreams are affected by even the slightest sensory stimuli,
such as things in our environment like a smell or sound, which may then be incorporated
into the sleeper’s dream. If something simple like the sound of a phone ringing can
affect and influence our dreams, then drugs that affect our brain’s chemistry can too.
(Myers, 2011).
That is why it is necessary to properly experience REM sleep and have the ability to dream.
The use of drugs deprives the brain of this important stage of sleep.
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How Drugs affect the brain
•
Immediately after entering the body, drugs cause dramatic changes to neural
synapses in the brain by either amplifying or blocking a neurotransmitter’s activity.
•
The chemical structure of drugs is similar to brain chemicals or
neurotransmitters (NIDA, 2008).
•
Drugs mimic natural neurotransmitters but work differently and send abnormal
messages through the brain. Some drugs release high amounts of these
neurotransmitters which leads to excessive messaging in the brain which disrupts
communication channels. (Myers, 2011).
•
All drugs of abuse take over the limbic system and flood it with dopamine,
producing a “high” for the user.
•
When the brain is flooded with artificial opiates, the brain may stop producing its
own natural opiates and suppress the body’s own neurotransmitter production.
(Myers, 2011).
Drug Affects Continued
Drugs affect hormone levels in four ways that can influence dreams; they
can increase dopamine, increase acetylcholine, decrease
norepinephrine, or decrease serotonin (Wick, 2002).
At normal levels during waking hours, norepinephrine helps focus and
sharpen thinking. When norepinephrine levels are decreased during
REM sleep, dreamers often assemble thoughts in a less organized and
more wandering manner (Wick, 2002).
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Drugs Affects on Sleep Patterns
 All drugs that affect serotonin levels may affect sleep and dreaming (Haavisto, 2008).
 Changes in the structure and function of the brain can have profound effects on sleep
patterns.
 Drugs of abuse alter sleep and specifically the amount and timing of REM sleep (Cohen,
1977).
 External factors such as medications and drugs tend to increase the number of
awakenings and limit the depth of sleep, which consequently impacts REM dreams.
 Some drugs can influence REM sleep and dreaming indirectly via their effects on NREM
sleep, especially slow-wave sleep. (Hobson, 2001.)
 Many of the mind-altering and addicting drugs are associated with REM suppression
during use (Hobson, 2001)
Examples:
Caffeine decreases the quantity of slow-wave sleep and REM sleep and tends
to increase the number of awakenings. It also increases your dream recall.
(Foleide, 2011).
Prescription drugs, such as anti depressants, often cause decreases in the
amount of REM and slow-wave sleep (Hobson, 2001).
Ingestion of cocaine increases wakefulness and suppresses REM sleep
(Hobson, 2001).
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Alcohol’s Suppressive Effects
When it comes to drinking alcohol, the chance of being able to dream is
greatly diminished. This is because the consumption of alcohol
suppresses or blocks REM sleep from happening. Since REM sleep is
needed for dreaming, a lot less dreaming occurs when intoxicated. Instead
alcohol causes us to fall into a deep, relaxed slow-wave sleep or otherwise
known as delta-wave sleep where consciousness is extremely low
(Hobson, 2001).
However, when a person stops their usual dose of alcohol there is a REM
rebound. This only happens after someone who usually drinks stops. It
causes the person to experience more REM sleep than usual to make up
for the REM sleep the brain did not get. Alcoholics are known to have
extremely intense dreams because of this REM rebound (Hobson, 2001)
Ancient Use of Drugs
•
The use of mind altering substances like drugs and intoxicating alcohols
that are used to improve and bring on dreams is known as a worldwide
phenomenon that dates back to prehistoric times.
•
Dionysian cults practiced using wine and other substances for dreamlikes states (Cohen, 1977).
•
Hindus used a drink called “soma” using marijuana as a main ingredient
to influence dreams through meditation (Cohen, 1977).
•
Incas chewed the leaves of the coca plant from which cocaine is made
(Cohen, 1977).
•
The Peyote ate sacred mushrooms and the Mexicans ate morning glory
plant seeds because they said it entered them into a realm of dreams
(Cohen, 1977).
Common Causes
•
Antidepressants are known for causing very strange, and sometimes
disturbing dreams. However, the recall of dreams is increased while taking
them.
•
Antipsychotic drugs can increase the vividness of dreams while
decreasing dream recall. These vivid dreams are sometimes known to be
sexual. (Haavisto, 2008).
•
Painkillers like Morphine cause dreams that are extremely realistic.
•
Stimulants can cause nightmares or even lead to paradoxical dreams that
are unpleasant and aggressive.
•
Over the counter allergy drugs have shown to cause dreams and
nightmares so weird and intense that they put them as side effects on the
medication (The Dream Encyclopedia, 1995).
•
Marijuana or THC is associated with an increase in slow-wave sleep and a
reduction in REM sleep (Pivik et al., 1972).
•
According to studies, alcohol and barbiturates seem to activate a
compensation mechanism that regulates REM sleep (Wiki Noticia, 2012).
Drug that Increases REM Sleep
During the 1950s, “reserpine” was used as a sedative and antipsychotic
drug. Reserpine actually increases REM sleep and patients reported vivid
dreams and nightmares while taking the drug (Hartmann, 1999).
Dream Study
One case study performed at the University of California in Santa Cruz
examined the effects of Zoloft on dream content of a patient with
generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks. Her dream reports were
compared before and after the drug treatment.
She recorded a series of 33 dreams, pre-medication; then recorded a series
of 40 more dreams, post-medication
 Prior to diagnosis and treatment, the dreamer had high levels of aggression and low
levels of friendliness in her dreams.
Results:
 There was a corresponding increase in friends and friendliness in addition to a
decrease in aggression. The ratio of friendliness to characters increased, along with
the number of characters who were friends of the dreamer.
 Another positive effect was the dreamer's increase in good fortune. Finally, the
number of elements from the dreamer's past decreased dramatically, as did familiar
settings.
Dreaming and Drugs in Popular Literature
•
After eating mushrooms Alice finds herself to be in “wonderland” where
she sees many strange things including an opium-smoking caterpillar
who too is sitting on top of some magic mushrooms. At the end it turns
out she dreamed the whole thing implying that she was under the
influence (Carroll, 1951).
•
In the Wizard Of Oz Dorothy ends up falling into a deep dream that was
caused by the poppy mixture she had ingested earlier (Baum, 1956).
•
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a famous English Poet wrote his most popular
book, “Kubla Khan” while in a drug-induced dream (Cohen, 1977).
•
John Lilley used a sensory-deprivation tank to emulate the state of sleep
while taking LSD to induce creative dreaming (Cohen, 1977)
Sources
Cohen, D. (1977). Dreams, visions and drugs: A search for other realities. Retrieved from
http://www.enotes.com/sleep-dreaming/drugs/reference
Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School. (2007, December 18). External factors that influence
sleep. Retrieved from http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/science/how/external-factors
The Dream Drug Store. (2001). Psychopharmacology of REM Sleep and Dreams. Retrieved from
http://www.psychologytoday.com
Foleide, L. R. (2011, November 23). Do substances like drugs, herbs and food affect our dreams?. Retrieved from
http://stason.org/TULARC/mind/dreaming/1-5-Do-substances-like-drugs-herbs-and-foods-affect-our-dr.html
Genetic Science Learning Center (1969, December 31) Drugs Alter the Brain's Reward Pathway. Retrieved from
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/drugs/
Haavisto, M. (2008, Oct 31). How drugs and herbs affect dreams. Retrieved from http://suite101.com/article/howdrugs-and-herbs-affect-dreams-a75945
Kirschner, N. (1999). Changes in dream content after drug treatment. Retrieved from
http://www2.ucsc.edu/dreams/Library/kirschner_1999a.html
Myers , D. G. (2011). Myers' psychology for ap. (pp. 175-210). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
National Institute of Drug Abuse (June, 2008). Addiction science: From molecules to managed care. Retrieved
from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/addiction-science/drug-use-changes-brain
Sources cont.

The Dream Encyclopedia. (1995). Drugs, effects on dreams. Retrieved from
http://www.answers.com/topic/drugs-effects-on-dreams
Wick, J. Y. (2002). Drugs and dreams. Retrieved from http://japha.org/article.aspx?articleid=1034455

Wiki Noticia (May 2012). Effects of drugs on sleep. (2012, May 10). Retrieved from
http://en.wikinoticia.com/lifestyle/beauty/117077-effects-of-drugs-on-sleep
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