Authors:

 Czegledy, Nina.

Title:

 Dream Theories

Keywords:

 consciousness, visual preception, dreaming, neurobiological models
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Abstract:

 From Aristotle to Freud, philosophers, physicians and fortune-tellers have
been deciphering and analyzing human dreams. In this century, the debate
between content-driven psychological analysis and a neurobiological
approach, has never ceased. My presentation investigates current dream
theories as related to consciousness, lucid dreaming, visual perception,
mental imagery, and creativity.

Sorcerers and shamans -long-time avatars of altered consciousness- have
always suggested that our firm belief in a stable world is a dream, an
illusion, akin to a virtual reality experience. Lately, various scientific
theories incorporated some of these assumptions. Interdisciplinary studies
include neurophysiological theories by Karl Pibram, neurocognitive models
proposed by John Antrobus and various theories based on quantum
mechanics. A holograph-like universe has been suggested by David Bohm,
where the observer (dreamer) becomes a connected, interactive participant.

Early this century, neurobiological investigations were hindered by
Freud's legacy. In 1953 the discovery of REM sleep and its correlation to
dreaming opened a new era of research. It is only within the last two
decades however, that a concentrated effort has been made towards
providing a neurocognitive model of dream physiology and a neurobiological
infrastructure of dreaming mechanisms.

Dreaming is commonly explained as a sequence of chiefly visual, often
hallucinatory sensations. Visual mental imagery is defined as seeing in
the absence of immediate sensory input and considered distinct from
physically present stimuli or perception. Bizarre features of dreaming
might be due to unexpected shifts in the visual imagery of the dreamer and
have been recently explained by neurocognitive studies of the visual
system. The understanding of dreaming mechanisms is dependent on the
comparison of waking and sleeping processes. Lucid dreamers are often
considered messengers between waking existence and dreaming.

What is the significance of different states of consciousness in a
"post-biological" era? Does mental imagery -as expressed in dreaming-
inform creativity? What can we learn from conscious dreaming? Are dreams
connected to virtual representations of ourselves as suggested by Freedom
Baird's digital "dream composer"?

An examination of these issues might clarify our understanding of the
visual perception process relative to dreaming theories.
Czegledy, Nina. czegledy@interlog.com www.interaccess.org/aurora, www.ostranenie.org/cyberknitting An independent media artist, curator and writer, Nina Czegledy divides her time between Canada and Europe. Her latest projects include Art and Biomedicine presentations at CAiiA 1 /2 and ISEA98,the Aurora Universalis collaboration including curating Aurora, an exhibition of electronic art at InterAccess Toronto, Canada. Dreaming Aurora (CD ROM), Aurora Universalis from Lapland (internet presentation) and Triptych (interactive video), are projects in development. Czegledy was currently touring Scandinavia with Kanadians, a current selection of videos and films,participated in the Polar Circuit 2 media residency , she was teaching the Crossing Over Workshop s in Sofia and Novi Sad, curating and programming for Ostranenie97, directing the Performance Bytes, Canada-wide telecommunication project, producing Triptych (digital video) and curating the In Sight , Media Art From The Middle of Europe touring project. Czegledy published in various journals both in North America and her native Hungary.