IUBio

How to Learn About Consciousness

Claude de Contrecoeur Cyrano at beehive.twics.com
Sat Jun 22 21:30:02 EST 1996


R$BsW(Je Conscient
Conscious Dreams and Consciousness(Version 3)
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  (Brouillon:draft:I would be happy if any person could take the time to co=
rrect the English of this article in progress!Thanks.)

I have discovered and scientifically explored conscious dreams in I976 and =
published about that in I979/I98O/I98I in France(AGRESSOLOGIE,MASSON eds.Pa=
ris)and in Italy in 1976.In my articles I described what distinguishes this=
 form of dream from normal oneiric phenomena and I also analysed different =
states of consciousness.The work I did is,apparently,the most advanced whic=
h has been done in this field,by following the scientific methodology.Of co=
urse,conscious dreams have been explored since a long time by the Tibetan m=
onks but they had no knowledge of present-day scientific analysis.Conscious=
 dream is,wrongly,called "lucid" dream in english.I will describe,here,a si=
mple and efficient method in order to induce this kind of dream.Moreover,I =
strongly believe that when most people will be able to enter,voluntarily,in=
 the virtual world of their dream world this will change,drastically,societ=
y.Manipulating your own mind in conscious dreams cannot be compared with th=
e highly primitive manipulations of computer generated virtual realities...=

It is far more easy to enjoy the virtual reality which is in your own mind =
than trying to enjoy primitive virtual realities generated by computers! To=
 that effect,you need no money,nothing,except exercising!Moreover,by doing =
so you start to learn a lot about what is consciousness as,for instance,in =
dreams you are frequently conscious of things which are non-existent in the=
 waking state reality.How you can be conscious of things which never existe=
d is an important discovery which opens the scientific exploration of what =
is exactly "consciousness".I analysed this,in detail,in my article of 1980.=


How to achieve conscious dreams
------------------------------------------------
In order to become proficient in conscious dreams you need to exercise at l=
east one hour per night,very,very regularly.Regularity is of prime importan=
ce in order to be able to penetrate,voluntarily,in your endogenous world or=
 ENDOREALITY.Going,at will,in your endoreality is one of the most rewarding=
 experience you can have in your life as you enter in the reality which is =
completely yours and where nobody,no Inquisitor can follow you to prevent y=
ou from just enjoying yourself.When you can achieve this,the exogenous real=
ity or EXOREALITY becomes less "real",less stressing,less borring as you ca=
n,now,consider willingly exoreality as dream-like,even it is not a dream! B=
ut being able to consider exoreality as oneiric-like,oneiric-mimetic,gives =
you much more freedom and self-confidence as you have now new values,new wa=
ys of seeing important things,like,for instance,the death of your loved one=
s or your own death.
So here are the exercises you should,regularly,do in order to learn to pene=
trate consciously in your endoreality:
I.Before going to sleep,sit or lie in your bed for at least 3O minutes.
2.In total darkness,just FOCUS your attention on darkness and try to VISUAL=
ISE simple images,like the image of a triangle,a square,a leaf,or something=
 which gives you pleasure.For instance,focusing your visual attention on se=
xual images will ameliorate your concentration!
If you are a man you can focus your attention on images of a breast,of butt=
ocks,of legs,etc
If you are a woman focus your attention on a part of man's anatomy which tr=
iggers your sexual desires.
The purpose of this exercise is to teach you how to activate,specifically,s=
ome of your memory zones in order to achieve the generation of controlled h=
allucinations.This is a very difficult exercise but it will train your cons=
ciousness to control itself.Focusing your attention is extremely important =
in the discovery of your memory and consciousness.
In the beginning if you focus your attention on,let say,a triangle,you will=
 observe the appearance of a faint triangular shape in the darkness and you=
 will discover that this triangle will have a strong tendency to move,rotat=
e,or simply disappear to be replaced by another faint image.Such faint imag=
es are called DISSATENUATED images.A clear and controlled hallucinated imag=
e is called a completely disattenuated image,while faint images are called =
partially disattenuated images.We will explain this later.A normal visual t=
hought is called an attenuated image.
To see a memorised image as clearly as a real image means that you activate=
 the metabolism of a memory zone where this image is stored.Selective metab=
olic activation of memory zones gives you a lot of power in your dreams and=
,also,surprisingly,in the exoreality where we all live.
3.While focusing your attention on INFORMATIONAL OBJECTS(a stored image of =
an object perceived in exoreality is called likewise)try your best to forge=
t the boundaries of your body.
4.Try not to move at all and breathe deeply and regularly,like someone who =
is sleeping.
5.When 3O minutes or more have elapsed,just go to sleep but you still have =
to wake up in the early morning!
6.Wake up early in the morning,between 4 or 5 and just repeat the whole exe=
rcise.
7.When you next wake up write,as fast as possible,everything you can rememb=
er of your dreams.Slowly,slowly you will discover that you remember more an=
d more dreams and in increasing details.
8.During the day,when you have time,just focus your attention on complex ob=
jects such as flowers,the ripples of water in a river,the shape of trees,le=
aves,examine carefully the content of books,etc.This teaches you the same t=
hing as before:how to better focus your consciousness on reality.
While making these focusing exercises you will discover a lot of things lik=
e,for instance,the appearance of reiterative rotating images which is an IN=
VARIANT phenomenon preceding the emergence of complex disattenuations.Reite=
rative images are,probably,a prerequesite for synthesis of complex 3 D imag=
es.My intuitition is that,in some ways,reiterative images mutually interact=
 to form complex images.Reiteratives images could be explained,I think,with=
 a concept called MHV and MHV metabolic activation.Such images can also eas=
ily be seen with serotoninergic hallucinogens and it seems that such an art=
ist as Escher just drew such reiterative hallucinations...So my opinion is =
that Escher had sub-hallucinations but that he did not mention it for obvio=
us reasons!Talking nowadays of hallucinations is somewhat reminiscent of ta=
lking about the Devil not so long ago...Hallucinations are,still,in the dom=
ain of demonology in our "modern" societies,one of the last taboo to eradic=
ate.
After some weeks or months of such a training it will,once,happen that you =
will make your first conscious dream,in the second phase of your exercise,t=
hat is in early morning.You will remember that as an extraordinary experien=
ce as you will discover that reality is only made of perceptions.Reality fo=
r all of us is what we consciously perceive.It does not matter from where t=
he incoming information flows,from exoreality or endoreality.Evolution has =
put in our central nervous system(C.N.S)a mechanism which erases the consci=
ousness of our dreams.If it did not do so,all of us would have chosen to li=
ve in our respective endorealities and our species would just be extinct!
Just see how people are running into exceedingly primitive computer-generat=
ed virtual realities.Imagine what would happen if all people could go,at wi=
ll,in the ultimate virtual reality of their own mind!!! The mercantilistic =
society which now prevails would just become extinct as,in our endoreality,=
we can achieve everything we want at no cost at all.The only cost is learni=
ng.Life would me more tranquil as people would cease to compete and to run,=
desperately,after "exoreal" objects in order to run,instead,after their own=
 informational objects...When you can access to the informational objects s=
tored into your memory you do not need anymore money and power to realise y=
our desires.It is far more easy to learn how to gratify yourself with infor=
mational objects than working like a mad to become a millionnaire who will =
have LESS than you because he can only possess exoreal objects!
The discovery of our endoreality will be the new "alphabetisation" of the h=
uman kind as this will be a complete revolution which will transform our so=
cieties in ways we cannot yet imagine.Endoreality exploration is the first =
prerequisite in order to analyse and understand what is "consciousness".

There are two ways of penetrating into a conscious dream
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I.In the first case,when you will do your second round of exercises,now lyi=
ng in your bed,you will notice the following phenomena which will tell you =
that you are on the verge of crossing the frontier between exoreality and e=
ndoreality:you may notice a buzzing sound in your ears or,more often,you wi=
ll feel,suddenly,that your body "becomes light" and moves upwards.Then you =
may,all of a suddeen,see a very bright three dimensional image just in fron=
t of your eyes.Do not become excited,do not panic! Stay very calm because i=
f you become excited or even just move your finger,then the marvellous imag=
e will instantly disappear and you will have lost the opportunity to make y=
our first exploration of your endoreality! Be tranquil,observe the image.Su=
ddenly,you will become a part of this image and you will find yourself with=
 an informational body,that is an oneiric body which is,exactly,like your e=
xoreal body.Do not be too excited.Breathe slowly now that you are in your d=
ream reality!Then go for exploration.
2.In the second case,you will feel the same phenomena but no image will app=
ear and you may just think you are still in your exoreal bed.Don't be so su=
re! Leave your bed and try to put some light.If you fail,this may mean you =
actually penetrated in your endoreality as,often,in conscious dreams lights=
 do not turn on.If there is no light,just open your window.Then look at you=
r room for details.Is everything in its correct place? If your room differs=
 from your normal room,then you can be sure you are in a dream and,of cours=
e,if you slept at let say 4:3O and when you opened your window you discover=
ed a full sunny day,with modifications of the surroudings,you will now,for =
sure know that you successfully penetrated,consciously,into your own memory=
!Then do the same as explained before:go for exploration,quietly.If you do =
not remain calm,you may just wake up.

What to do in a Conscious Dream?
-------------------------------------------------
This is not an obvious question.The first thing you should do in a consciou=
s dream is just to observe your endoreality and compare it with exoreality.=
Try to meet oneiric people,speak with them,kiss them if you like,think abou=
t how they can perceive you:do they really have "sensory organs"?Compare th=
eir behaviour with the behaviour of exoreal people.Test their will.Do they =
have "free will"?Make experiments with them in order to evaluate "their psy=
chology".Ask them questions:do you know we are in my dream?What do you do w=
hen I am awake!Are you aware that we all share the same central nervous sys=
tem?,etc,etc. After a while you will fully realise that endoreality and exo=
reality are similarly vivid,"real" and that you were,before,just like a chi=
ld who never learned to read.You did not know that so many things happened =
in your mind when you were sleeping!You always,erroneously,believed that "d=
reams" were "only" dreams and could be distinguished from exoreality.And yo=
u believed so because you suffered from amnesia due to lack of training.You=
 will realise,especially if you are a neuroscientist,that there are no clea=
r-cut differences between the two realities except that both obey to differ=
ent laws:exoreality obeys to the physical laws discovered by Science and en=
doreality obeys to the laws of the neurophysiology of memory.You will soon =
discover that exoreality is devoid of EXTRAORDINARITY while endoreality is =
full of extraordinarity.In your endoreality any extraordinary thing can hap=
pen:you may speak to a cat or be transformed into a woman,if you are a woma=
n;you may transform yourself in another person or in a passion-fruit flower=
,you may become,simultaneously,two or three persons AT THE SAME TIME,etc.
You can divide yourself into two persons,let say a woman and a man,and just=
,then,make love with yourself! This is an extraordinary fullfilling experie=
nce which cannot be described in exoreal terms.You have to discover it by y=
ourself.All these virtual experiences will make you see exoreality into a t=
otally transformed way as,endoreality,will then be to you like a space of g=
reat freedom while exoreality will be considered like a form of prison,beca=
use exoreality is,totally,devoid,of extraordinarity.
Slowly,slowly you will also get a sense that exoreality is,perhaps,not as r=
eal as we think but that it might be just a part of an unknown hyper-realit=
y of which we are totally unaware.Already modern physicists can guess of su=
ch hyper-realities into which our own reality would only be a small,"illuso=
ry",part.For instance,Andr$Brq(J Linde,a renown physicist,described a mod=
el of the universe(called the inflationnary fractal universe)which just loo=
ks like what we could guess of hyper-reality.
When you are in a conscious dream,you will first enjoy,meet loving women or=
 men,make oneiric friends,visit Tahiti or Havai'i,the moon or mars,etc.Of c=
ourse all these experiences are imaginary but so is imaginary your own life=
 in exoreality!
After that,you should analyse the oneiric world,for instance you can try no=
w to evaluate what is the degree of freedom that you and your oneiric partn=
ers have in the endoreality.Doing this,you will,one day,discover that oneir=
ic people are HYBRIDS between yourself and between what you think you know =
about others.For instance,oneiric people can answer to any question the sam=
e exoreal people could not answer.They can be influenced by your thoughts,e=
tc.They are not always free to behave like they do and,most often,their vol=
ition is very weak in front of your own volition.One of the most important =
thing in the endoreality is that you can study,first hand,how your memory w=
orks.In a way you become your own Sherlock Holmes and this is highly exciti=
ng as you are scientifically exploring a world where no scientists have gon=
e before you! You are on your way to become a pioneer of the "mind".
One important thing to do in conscious dreams,for scientists,is to analyse =
the oneiric reality first-hand,from inside,as this is the best way to study=
 how a biological memory works.The first thing a scientist discovers in end=
oreality is that the oneiric environment is METASTABLE.Every informational =
object of a dream is continuously in a metastable state and can change to a=
nother metastable state though a "MHV jump".Endoreal informational objects =
are often relatively stable as long as the dreamer maintains his attention =
focused on them.Let say if I have on my wrist a watch this watch will tend =
to remain the same as long as I am looking at it.If I hide my oneiric arm w=
ith the oneiric watch for,let say,maybe 3O seconds of oneiric time and then=
 look again at my wrist I will notice that a sudden MHV jump has occured:my=
 first watch would have transformed into another watch,different,but still =
a watch because in our memory all homologuous informational objects are sto=
red in a common place.
All homologuous objects colocalised in a same domain are called,collectivel=
y, a Motif Homologiquement Variant(MHV)or Motifs homologuously variable.For=
 example,in this example,all the watches I have seen in my life constitute =
a "single" MHV and a single watch extracted from this MHV is called a "slic=
e" of the MHV.The memory area where is stored a MHV is called a MHV domain.=
Any MHV can contain a huge amount of informational objects which are extrac=
ted into consciousness with metabolic energy.To illustrate this with a simp=
le familiar example just consider a game with soap which has been played,fo=
r generations,everywhere by children:in this game,children plunge an annula=
r piece of plastic in liquid soap then blow inside and what happens? Lots o=
f bubbles,with different sizes,sprout out! In the same way,when you inject =
energy in a MHV(you "heat" the MHV)this MHV starts to "bubble" its slices o=
ut into consciousness!A bubbling MHV is called a radiating MHV.The MHV are =
the short-cuts of dreams and,often,an oneiric scene will change to another =
oneiric scene through a MHV jump,that is a transformation obeying to a law =
of homologuous motifs,patterns.MHVs contain enormous quantities of informat=
ional objects having in common a similar motif.For example,a mushroom and a=
nd ashtray with a candle in its middle are very close in shape(motif)and th=
ey are,thus,colocalised.This is why if I observe one visual thought(Drawing=
 No.I)consisting of an upside down mushroom,for example,and if,all a sudden=
,this mushroom disappears and is replaced by an ashtray with a candle insid=
e this is because their motif are very similar and it needs a small amount =
of metabolic energy to shift consciousness from the first informational obj=
ect(the mushroom)to the second informational object(the ashtray with the ca=
ndle).Memory is composed entirely of MHVs which are also all intertwined.Th=
is gives rise to the discontinuity of our thoughts.For instance,the vision =
of a mushroom is a simple visual continuous thought.As long as that mushroo=
m remains the same my visual thought is CONTINUOUS.When,suddenly,my conscio=
usness drifts away through a MHV jump then it becomes DISCONTINUOUS.Observa=
tion of simple visual thoughts containing one informational object is extre=
mely important in order to discover the structuration of memory:a vast arra=
y of intertwined MHVs.Such observations can be achieved either just by lear=
ning how to focus your attention OR through the help of cannabinoids which =
enhance the metabolic status of MHVs.The notion of MHV is extraordinarily p=
owerful as it permits then for the scientist to begin to understand how the=
 oneiric or the schizophrenic consciousness are structured.A schizophrenic =
thinks in the same way as a normal dreamer:his consciousness just follows t=
he way memory is organised:into MHVs.The difference between a schizophrenic=
 and a normal waking person is that the MHVs in a schizophrenic mind are mo=
re active metabolically and so MHVs start to "radiate" meaning that discont=
inuity of thought is enhanced.MHVs radiation is also found in those religio=
us mystics claimimg to have reached a "complete" "understanding" of the "un=
iverse"...
There are a lot of things to explore and analyse in conscious dreams. I wil=
l explain,now, some of the things I have discovered,since I976,when I first=
 penetrated into a conscious dream.

About different states of consciousness and "new" concepts(I976)
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--------------------

I will explain,later,in more details,why I call hallucinations "disattenuat=
ed images".Basically,this stems from the fact that our brain is equipped wi=
th a structure called the ATTENUATOR of which the function is to control,li=
ke a kind of potentiometer,the quantity of information flowing from memory =
to consciousness.An imaginary image of an exoreal object is,thus,a fully at=
tenuated image while the same hallucinated image is called a fully disatten=
uated image.When we dream the Attenuator ceases functioning and so informat=
ion flows freely and unhampered to consciousness.Hallucinogens are,in fact,=
disattenuating molecules while serotoninergics,like the specific serotonin =
re-uptake blockers,are pro-attenuation molecules meaning that they increase=
 the degree of attenuation of recalled stored memories.Conversly,disattenua=
ting molecules increase the degree of informational flow from memory to con=
sciousness.This process is called "disattenuation".
The brain is also equipped of another very important structure called,in Fr=
ench,the D$BqS(Jepix$BqM(Jisateur,which could be translated,into englis=
h,as the "Disrepixelisator" or D.R.P.The DRP is responsible of the continui=
ty of our consciousness during waking time.During dreaming,the DRP also sto=
ps functionning,thus introducing discontinuity in our thoughts which become=
 fragmented,like in schizophrenia(due to enhanced metabolism in MHVs).In fa=
ct,schizophrenia is,essentially,a disease of the DRP which is malfunctionin=
g.The DRP is so responsible for the normality of our consciousness during o=
ur waking time.We do not know yet which brain structures are involved in th=
e DRP but one structure which seems to be a part of this system is the hipp=
ocampus.
The DRP controls the informational structure of our consciousness and maint=
ains the stability of this structure by preventing MHV radiation.In every i=
ndividual there is a base-line level of MHV radiation which maintains him i=
n contact with exoreality.If this base-line level of radiation is increased=
,then thoughts become discontinuous and we become "crazy" for an exoreal ob=
server!MHV radiation is INCREASED in the normal dreaming state but DECREASE=
D in the conscious dream state.This means that during a conscious dream THO=
SE BRAIN STRUCTURES CRUCIALLY INVOLVED IN  THE WAKING STATE FORM OF CONSCIO=
USNESS are in a lower metabolic state.This is a very important realisation =
as it should now be possible,with PET tomography,to localise those structur=
es responsible for the waking form of consciousness...Surely this will be a=
 great achievement in the study of consciousness.The DRP is,very probably,a=
 system which controls the intensity of metabolism in those zones which giv=
e rise to consciousness.When metabolic activity is low in these zones,then =
we have our normal structure of consciousness.The structure of consciousnes=
s is also called a "pixelisation pattern"(motif de pix$BqM(Jisation,in Fr=
ench).When metabolic activity becomes elevated,then our consciousness becom=
es metastable and dissolves into a mosaic of unrelated informational events=
=2EDuring our waking time,the DRP maintains a low metabolism in the zones o=
f our brain responsible for consciousness.So the DRP(and also the Attenuato=
r!)is a metabolic modulator.Understanding how the DRP works is understandin=
g many different states of consciousness,from the normal waking type of con=
sciousness to the dream or schizophrenic types of consciousness.The functio=
ning of the DRP and the Attenuator are interelated.Depending on these inter=
elations you will get different states of consciousness.There is also anoth=
er system which is fundamental in order to understand different states of c=
onsciousness.It is called the S.B.E.M(syst$BoN(Je de blocage des $BqG(J=
f$BqS(Jences motrices)in French and I will keep the same acronym in Engli=
sh.The S.B.E.M is a neuronal system  which blocks motor efferents during th=
e onset of dream but which does not work during schizophrenic states,were i=
t remains inactive.This is why schizophrenics express an oneiric way of thi=
nking while awake.

Different states of consciousness are generated via the mutual interactions=
 of the Attenuator,DRP and S.B.E.M.
------------------------------------------

The way the DRP,the Attenuator and the S.B.E.M work together determines dif=
ferents states of consciousness,depending upon the states of activity or in=
activity of these integrated structures.
For instance, the normal waking state of consciousness will be defined like=
wise:
Attenuator:Active
DRP:Active
S.B.E.M:Inactive
The normal dreaming state will,thus,be:
Attenuator:Inactive
DRP:Inactive
S.B.E.M:Active
The conscious dream state will be:
Attenuator:Inactive(consequence:increased metabolism in our memory zones)
DRP:Active(consequence:decreased metabolism in our consciousness zones)
S.B.E.M:Active
The hallucinatory schizophrenic state will be:
Attenuator:Inactive
DRP:Inactive
S.B.E.M:Inactive
The non-hallucinatory schizophrenic state will be:
Attenuator:Active
DRP:Inactive
S.B.E.M:Inactive
Hallucinatory states, drug induced, will be:
Attenuator:More or less inactive
DRP:Active
S.B.E.M:Inactive
 Make yourself proficient in conscious dreams as this will be the next huma=
n revolution to come,a revolution as important as the discovery of fire or =
of writing.


Continuity and Discontinuity of Consciousness
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The main characteristic of the dream and schizophrenic state of consciousne=
ss is discontuinity.When we are awake our consciousness is continuous and t=
his is the reason why we can express ourselves in a verbally "logical" way.=
On the contrary the consciousness of the schizophrenic or the dreamer is ma=
de of continuous and discontinuous parts,alternatively.The nature of these =
discontinuities come from the way our memory is organised and structured.Bi=
ological memories are not sequential memories:they store information both i=
n a continuous and discontinuous way.Discontuinity comes from the fact that=
 our memory classifies information through motifs,patterns.In fact,the brai=
n has nothing to do with the computer analogy as a brain is,actually,a PATT=
ERN ANALYSER not a sequential analyser like computers.Computers will become=
 intelligent only when they will work as artificial pattern analysers.As lo=
ng as they will work sequentially they will continue to be complete imbecil=
es! In fact,as a neuroscientist,I am amazed about how computers can be stup=
id.One other reason for their lack of any intelligence is that they cannot =
make mistakes and mistakes are the basis of emerging intelligence.
Our memory so stores information according to patterns,motifs.For instance =
spherical objects will be stored in the same memory area,triangular objects=
 will be stored in their own memory area,etc.Our memory stores also informa=
tion in a continuous way.This form of information storage is called MCV mem=
ory from "M$BqN(Joire $B_=01(JMotifs Contin$B=FBm(Jent Variants"(MCV==
motifs continuously variable).In fact,analysis seems to point that MCV memo=
ry is only an illusion and an expression of MHV memory where all stored mot=
ifs flow in a SAME time direction.So to each,let say,slice of MHV we can as=
sign a time coordinate and when a set of slices of MHV have similar time co=
ordinates then this produces continuity and the illusion of MCV memory.All =
this has been a fascinating brainstorming and research for me,from I976 to =
I989 ! This is the first time I share some of my knowledge with many people=
=2E
An area which stores homologous patterns,motifs, is called,in French,a "Dom=
aine d'homologie motifielle" which may be translated as  "homologous motif =
domain".For instance all the heads off people we have seen in our life are =
stored in a common homologous motif domain which can be called,for convenie=
nce,a "motif domain of heads":a MHV of heads!All those stored heads constit=
ute a MHV of heads while one head is a slice,a section of this MHV,as we sa=
w previously.This is important to keep in mind.
In the consciousness of normal people,those domains are,always,in a very lo=
w metabolic state.Thus,the patterns stored in these domains do not RADIATE =
outside.Metabolically inactive patterns,then,do not enter into consciousnes=
s making our consciousness rather continuous.If the metabolic status of the=
se domains is increased,then these domains start to radiate in all directio=
ns of our memory,introducing discontinuity,as our consciousness will start =
to flow according to pattern homologies.This can be very well observed with=
 the psychotropic cannabinoids as cannabinoids,specifically,enhance the met=
abolism of homologous motif domains thus giving rise to the typical discont=
inuous thoughts of a person intoxicated with cannabinoids.This,in fact,is t=
he beginning of madness as pure madness will be characterised by a still hi=
gher metabolic activity in these domains.The thoughts of  schizophrenics wi=
ll so be,essentially,discontinuous and this discontinuity will ,naturally,p=
ut them  in a state of total confusion as their consciousness will,then,bec=
ome ILLUSIONISED.The French psychiatrist,Dr.Joseph Moreau de Tours seems to=
 have understood this phenomenon in his book "Du Haschich et de l'Ali$BqO=
(Jation Mentale",published in 1845 already...,one of the greatest ever book=
 written on the mind.

The Illusionised Consciousness:Towards an understanding of Consciousness
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------------------------------------
When your consciousness is illusionised you can no longer recognise what yo=
u perceive from exoreality. To be properly conscious of an exogenous patter=
n this specific pattern should be compared to its endogenous counterpart st=
ored in our memory.If is is,erroneously,compared to a different pattern the=
n our consciousness is illusionised:we are no more in adequation with the e=
xternal(exogenous)reality.This is the essence of madness and of dreams wher=
e we are "conscious"(aware)of things which never existed in exoreality like=
 false memories,etc.False memories generated in dreams are,wrongly,interpre=
ted by non-scientists as "recollection" of "past lives"! When you can exper=
ience the illusionised state by yourself,first hand,then you can understand=
 how people can be convinced of the real "existence" of non-real events.
When homologous pattern domains are very active metabolically then proper r=
ecognition of exogenous patterns is disturbed and consciousness becomes "fr=
agmented" because it,in fact,radiates in different stored homologous patter=
ns.So,schizophrenia is a state of hypermnesia.There is a limit to the quant=
ity of homologous patterns which can be recalled per unit of time.When this=
 limit is crossed,then we become crazy or we start,also,to dream!(This limi=
t is called,in French,the SEUIL D'ILLUSION").This means that no drug will e=
ver be invented which could intensify our recalls indefinitely as indefinit=
e recall just generates consciousness radiation,that is confusion! Cannabin=
oids are memory enhancers but,under their influence,we remember so many thi=
ngs that we just forget them nearly as soon as we have remembered them!!! T=
o the outside observer,this looks like amnesia but this is,actually,hypermn=
esia.This physiological limit to proper conscious recall reminds,a bit,the =
problem of uncertainty discovered by Heisenberg.However,creative individual=
s by continuously and nearly obsessively thinking to some ideas enhance the=
 metabolic status of the areas where their ideas are stored(these are hyper=
-complex MHVs) giving rise to a phenomenon of interaction/synthesis in homo=
loguous motif domains.This interaction/synthesis is the BASIS of Creativity=
=2ESo creative individuals learn to enhance the metabolic activity of hyper=
-complex MHVs.
Interaction/synthesis is a phenomenon which,continuously,goes on in MHV dom=
ains.This processus generates,continuously,ORDER.
Here is a simple example of interaction/synthesis.Let us take a MHV of mush=
rooms.Now let us take two sections(two slices)of this MHV like 2 particular=
 mushrooms.It is VERY IMPORTANT to notice here that,most probably,these mus=
hrooms WERE NOT stored at the same time.Maybe one would have been stored in=
 september I979 and the other one in october I99I.These 2 mushrooms can inf=
ormationnally interact and thus produce a NEW HYBRID mushroom which was nev=
er observed in exoreality.This new mushroom will,immediately,be stored in t=
he MHV of mushrooms.What is important to realise is that this hybridisation=
 process is the basis of the Imaginary.Without interaction/synthesis in MHV=
s men would never have imagined anything DIFFERENT from what they perceive =
in exoreality.Myths,religions,all these things arose through interaction/sy=
nthesis in MHV domains.
But what is more important to know,in our example,is that the new hybrid mu=
shroom is a TIME COMPOSITE.
Let us call our first 2 mushrooms A and B and the first hybrid produced C.N=
ow that we have A,B and C nothing forbids new interactions/synthesis to pro=
ceed like,for instance,the merging of A and C to give D or the merging of B=
 and C to give E.
This can go on "forever":D might interact with A to give F,and so on.
So a MHV becomes more and more complex,more and more ORDERED and structured=
 with the passing of time.This is very important to understand what is "cre=
ativity".
All these hybrids are spatial hybrids and time hybrids and this is why cons=
ciousness looks so free because it can go through all these "holes" linking=
 different informational objects through a lot of MHV jumps.

Creativity is a Process of Spontaneous Informational Self-Organisation
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
--------------------------
Memory is a "Structure Informationnelle Auto-Organisatrice",that is a self-=
organising structure.This means that the content of memory spontaneously re=
orders itself to make more complex informational structures.
This is done through the continuous Interaction/synthesis phenomenon I just=
 described, going on in the homologuous pattern domains which,progressively=
,complexifies the informations stored in biological memories.This is the ve=
ry essence of creativity where new ideas suddenly visually appear when they=
 are sufficiently self-organised.Biological memories,constantly,create ORDE=
R,through interaction/synthesis in homologous motif domains.Then one level =
or order proceeds to a higher level,and so on.Cannabinoids can stimulate th=
is natural phenomenon by enhancing the metabolism of memory zones.This does=
 not mean that everyone can become creative with cannabinoids because,in or=
der to be creative,you need to study and accumulate a lot of conflicting da=
ta in your memory and you need to be able to visually observe the progress =
of your memory in creating higher and higher order.Moreover,as we have seen=
,the hypermnesia induced by cannabinoids leads to spontaneous amnesia:ideas=
 are forgotten nearly as soon as they are discovered because consciousness,=
under cannabinoids,radiates in a multitude of homologuous pattern domains(t=
hese new ideas are visual in nature and one can learn to see his or her tho=
ughts self-organising)!

When two forms of drug-induced amnesia mutually cancel...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----------
This explains why the combination of benzodiazepines and cannabinoids(two m=
olecules inducing "amnesia")can lead to mutual suppression of their side-ef=
fects on memory as benzodiazepines lower metabolism,meaning that they also =
diminish consciousness radiation.By adjusting the doses of a benzodiazepine=
(like clonazepam,for instance)and of a cannabinoid you can enhance your rec=
all abilities without falling into pseudo-amnesia,and get interesting scien=
tific or philosophical insights.
Introspective observation with cannabinoids gives you a good understanding =
of the dreaming,or schizophrenic,mind  as cannabinoids are,primarily,illusi=
ogenic molecules.You do not get the same insight with hallucinogens as hall=
ucinations and illusions are completely different phenomena.An illusion is =
a state in which an exogenous pattern is not correctly identified while a h=
allucination is a state in which you perceive something which just exists i=
n your memory.In an hallucination you memory adds something to the exogenou=
s perceived reality while in an illusion your memory wrongly identifies an =
exogenous pattern.
Illusions are fundamental in order to understand the oneiric and schizophre=
nic states of consciousness.
The only known illusiogens are,till now,the psychotropic cannabinoids.
Salvinorin,a diterpene hallucinogenic molecule from Salvia divinorum,may be=
 also illusiogenic but I have not tested this molecule yet.
Cannabinoids have a lot of properties different from the hallucinogens.For =
instance,they disrupt the speed of attenuation. =

This speed is decreased under cannabinoids and this phenomenon gives rise t=
o "time dilatation" observed under these drugs.
Time perception is strongly modulated by serotonin.For instance,the specifi=
c serotonin re-uptake blockers,such as fluvoxamine or zimelidine,suppress t=
he perception of time as thoughts are decreased in consciousness.The number=
 of spontaneous thoughts per unit of time is essential in our subjective pe=
rception of time flow.When we have few thoughts per unit of time,then time =
flow seems slowed.On the contrary,when we have a lot of thoughts per =

unit of time,then time flow seems augmented.
So cannabinoids and serotonin reuptake blockers act on opposite direction a=
s far as time perception is concerned.
On the other hand,psilocin has an usual effect on time perception as the mo=
vements of people under psilocin seem to be decreased! People seem to move =
more slowly than usual.
This may mean that the speed of attenuation is increased,contrary to haschi=
ch.However,subjective time perception is not modiffied.

Endoreality is like a coral!
------------------------------------
In exoreality we all express only one person:ourself.In endoreality,on the =
contrary,we share a common imaginary space-time with other people who are s=
tored representations of what we know about them.Our memory is so quite sim=
ilar to a coral where myriads of polyps inhabit the same domain.Each endore=
al person,including yourself,can be compared to a polyp inhabiting this spa=
ce:memory.
So in our endoreality many people live together in a same imaginary(virtual=
)space-time.But to appear in this space-time the memory zones containing th=
ose people have,of course,to become metabolically active.When we dream a ve=
ry small percentage of our memory is highly metabolically active.If everyth=
ing was active,then dream would not mirror exoreality but be a space of tot=
al confusion!This is what seems to happen in the mind of those people who h=
ave experienced an inefable mystic experience where their consciousness,app=
arently,radiates in many homologuous patterns,simultaneously,giving to the =
mystic this feeling that he can comprehend "everything" at the same time.

We have no "free will":Everything we think reflects the Biochemistry of our=
 Nervous System
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----------------------------------------------------Introspective psychoph=
armacology and the study of different states of consciousness clearly demon=
strate that what we think,we do,or we say is merely a reflection of the par=
ticular biochemistry going on,at a certain time,in our central nervous syst=
em(CNS).This is why,for instance,mankind is so irrational.
Experiments of mine have shown that by slightly modifying brain neurochemis=
try we can think in completely opposing ways and argue,for instance,with  p=
seudo-logical arguments to justify unconsciously this brain neurochemistry.=

For instance if I modify my brain biochemistry in a more dopaminergic way,o=
r more serotoninergic way or if I experiment such a sociabilising molecule =
as gamma-hydroxybutyrate or still ingest female hormones,then I will see ve=
ry clearly on myself how my thoughts only reflect my CNS biochemistry.
This can be quite spectacular,sometimes,as you may find yourself arguing "l=
ogically" in opposing ways,depending on the induced biochemical modificatio=
ns!
For a psychopharmacologist there is no such thing as "free will",etc.This b=
elief is only a prejudiced judeochristian cultural belief and a delusion.Th=
ere are only states of consciousness expressing a particular CNS biochemist=
ry.This is an extremely important scientific and philosophical observation =
as it teaches us that any human discourse is always SUSPECT as someone will=
 always just express ,VERBALLY, HIS PARTICULAR CNS BIOCHEMISTRY.
When you become aware of this crucial fact you do not feel,anymore,an urgen=
cy to communicate with others,in a pseudo "communication", as words are mer=
ely a way to alter the brain neurochemistry of someone else so he may share=
 the same delusions as yours!Words are thus similar to psychotropic drugs a=
nd such words as "love" or "hate","freedom",etc,are particularly hallucinog=
enic.Politicians are experts in using hallucinogenic words in order to mani=
pulate the mental states of others.So are playboys with their victims!
All great dictators,such as Hitler,etc,have always been very keen at manipu=
lating the biochemistry of others through words-induced emotional hallucina=
tions,which are called cortico-limbic hallucinations.These hallucinations a=
re far worse than cortical hallucinations induced by molecules like psiloci=
n or other "hallucinogens".Cortico-limbic hallucinations mostly go unrecogn=
ised in nature as people are not aware that they are,very often,hallucinati=
ng cortico-limbically.This is why I also call these everyday hallucinations=
 "unidentified hallucinations".These hallucinations are the most dangerous =
forms of hallucination for the human species and have been and are at the r=
oot of man aggressive and violent behaviour intra-specifically.All wars,all=
 conflicts start with cortico-limbic hallucinations...
A human being CAN NEVER have perfect objectivity and the examples are so nu=
merous in Science itself to discourage us from trying to attain an authenti=
c objectivity as scientists,like everybody,mostly express,in their discours=
es,their own frustrations or delusions.Science IS NOT objective even though=
 it tries to reach objectivity.Science is the expression of the human mind =
and we can conceive that very advanced intelligences could be completely at=
 odds with what we believe they should do as their "science" will also refl=
ect the organisation of their "central nervous system" or equivalent.

Human communication is highly primitive
-----------------------------------------------------------
Man is still a primitive species as his symbolic sequential means of "commu=
nication" has a very low flux of "bits per second" and because such a langu=
age has a huge noise to signal ratio.Human "communication" is embedded in n=
oise and thus the level of distorsion between 2 communicating persons is al=
ways very high.
It is very probable that advanced intelligences do not use anymore symbolic=
 sequential communication but,instead, non-symbolic non-sequential communic=
ation as this form of communication is extremely accurate and fast.I guess =
that in the future the human species will modify its CNS functionning,throu=
gh a new science,yet to be born,and called NEUROMORPHOGENETICS.With this kn=
owledge we will create de novo new communicating structures capable of tran=
smitting and receiving non-symbolic non-sequential information.This will cr=
eate a big gap between the present-day homo sapiens and the new homo yet to=
 be borned.
In fact,a lot of reflexions on this topic leads me to think that there are =
levels of intelligences and that the superior level has no logical interest=
 to even try to "communicate"with the lower levels.
This is why I believe people like Carl Sagan,etc,who replaced the quest for=
 God by the quest of Extraterrestrial Intelligences(ETI)are,unconsciously,d=
eluding themselves in the desperate search for a meaning and transcendance =
of life.
I firmly believe that there WILL NEVER be any form of "communication" betwe=
en homo sapiens and ETI.
Homo sapiens,for instance,does not communicate with mice because they are s=
eparated by a big gap in intelligence.Likewise,ETI capable to reach our pla=
net will certainly not waste their time with such a primitive species as ho=
mo sapiens.Very probably ETI capable to reach the Earth would already use a=
 non-symbolic non-sequential means of communication,the result of this bein=
g non-communication between the two species!Another thing which would certa=
inly fundamentally separate ETI from us is that they should have learned no=
t to age as ageing and death are the most fundamental problem for any intel=
ligence. =

When homo sapiens will have given rise to new more advanced homo (and proba=
bly non-mortal, as death is a kind of genetic disease which needs to be rep=
aired)he will soon fade away and I feel this may happen quite fast,maybe ju=
st in a millenium.It is science-fiction to think that homo sapiens will rem=
ain the same in a near future.Homo sapiens are doomed to disappear rapidly =
and give rise to more advanced beings.In a way the real human,as I conceive=
 it,still does not exist as homo sapiens still share a lot in common with a=
nimals.
One day there will be real humans but we ARE NOT yet those humans.We are pr=
e-humans,still very bestial and doomed to a grotesque destiny because of se=
nescence.

What is Consciousness?
------------------------------------
The study of dreams and schizophrenia demonstrates that consciousness,as a =
whole,is the summation of small amounts of consciousness.
Consciousness is,basically,a process involving pattern recognition.
Pattern-recognition does not,automatically,lead to objective consciousness =
as we can be(in dreams or in schizophrenia)conscious of non-existent "memor=
ies".
In dreams or schizophrenia WE CAN BE CONSCIOUS OF THINGS WHICH NEVER EXISTE=
D in exoreality. Why? Because our consciousness is illusionised,like this c=
an happen under high doses of cannabinoids.To be conscious of false memorie=
s is a highly exciting experience which opens you a quasi infinite number o=
f subjective imaginary experiences!
To develop all this here is time consuming and needs some drawings!
Suffice to say that when an exoreal pattern is compared(in our memory)with =
its corresponding endoreal pattern we become conscious of things which real=
ly exist in exoreality.
But when an exoreal pattern is compared to a slightly modified endoreal pat=
tern then we become conscious of non-existent things.This is the basis of m=
ost dream or madness experience.
What regulates this proper or improper pattern recognition is the METABOLIC=
 STATE of memory areas involved in specific pattern recognition.A high meta=
bolic rate in homologuous pattern domains will give rise to erroneous patte=
rn recognition as homologuous pattern domains start to radiate in the imagi=
nary space-time of memory.
Consciousness is a story of pattern recognition and metabolism.This is why =
consciousness is strongly modified by drugs enhancing or diminishing brain =
metabolism in memory zones.
For instance the specific serotonin-reuptake blockers decrease metabolism a=
nd thus consciousness becomes empty,lethargic,while enhancing dopamine neur=
otransmission leads to enhanced metabolism and thus enhanced consciousness.=

Serotonin is,mostly(keeping apart the story of 5-HT2A receptors!),the molec=
ule of tranquility,placidity.It makes us non-reactive to events,such as str=
ess,sexual desire,etc.Serotonin decreases all base-line behaviours.
Dopamine,on the contrary,is an ubiquitous metabolic activator and it stimul=
ates activity,confidence,clarity of consciousness(up to the frontier of ill=
usion where,consciousness,starts to radiate and thus becomes "confused"!).O=
verconsciousness is thus equal to apparent confusion for an external observ=
er,as demonstrated with experiments involving cannabinoids and benzodiazepi=
nes.Things are very clearly recalled but quasi-instantaneously forgotten be=
cause of consciousness radiation.

When does Consciousness arise?
------------------------------------------------
Consciousness arises when exoreal and stored endoreal patterns are compared=
=2E
The informational content per se of these patterns is NOT so important as t=
he COMPARISON
process itself.If the comparison process is successful,then "consciousness"=
 arises INDEPENDANTLY from the objectivity of informational content.This is=
 the reason why we can be conscious of things which never existed in the ex=
oreality.I became clearly aware of this process around 1979 and I refer the=
 reader to my articles for more information.

Consciousness is nothing else than a Metabolic Activity in a Memory Zone!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------------
When informational objects are metabolically inactive,by definition they ar=
e UNCONSCIOUS.
At any moment our memory contains billions of informational objects which a=
re metabolically inactive or in a very low metabolic state.This is why we a=
re NOT CONSCIOUS of their existence.
Any informational object starts to EXIST for us when the metabolism of the =
memory zone where this object is stored is increased.
When the increase of metabolism of this object reaches a critical intensity=
 then we,all of a sudden,become CONSCIOUS of its existence.
We have already seen that we can be conscious of any simple informational o=
bject(like the image of a person,for instance)or be conscious of complex in=
formational objects consisting of subunits and displaying a length of time =
of existence:for example the vision of a whole non-existent situation,like =
in dreams or schizophrenia.


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