Posted in
consciousness,
dreams,
Levi,
Luke
Most of the time, I go to bed later than my other siblings. One night, Luke was asleep on the floor. When I came in he stood up and got in bed. I noticed his eyes were closed, but wondered if he was awake. I decided to do a little experiment. Note that Luke's eyes were closed the whole time.
Me: Did Bob take the mustard?
Luke sits up in bed
Luke: Maybe
Me: Did George take the mayonnaise?
Luke scratches his chin
Luke: OK, bye.
Luke lies down in bed
I tried to pursue further conversation, but he was obviously fully asleep. A few nights later, Levi seemed unusually fidgety. I decided to try it with him. Note that Levi's eyes were closed the whole time.
Me: Levi? Are you awake?
Levi nods, eyes still closed
Me: Can you give me a high five?
Levi shakes his head a few times, then nods
I hold out my hand
Levi highfives a few various invisible hands
Levi shakes his head
So in both of the above cases [yes they really happened], I obviously affected their dreams, more or less. With Luke though, I could only affect his dream up to a certain point. So at what level of consciousness do I affect their dreams? At what level of consciousness is it not really a dream for them? Since consciousness can't be measured these questions may never be answered.
Unless of course in 10 years from now, we discover a way to measure consciousness.
Me: Did Bob take the mustard?
Luke sits up in bed
Luke: Maybe
Me: Did George take the mayonnaise?
Luke scratches his chin
Luke: OK, bye.
Luke lies down in bed
I tried to pursue further conversation, but he was obviously fully asleep. A few nights later, Levi seemed unusually fidgety. I decided to try it with him. Note that Levi's eyes were closed the whole time.
Me: Levi? Are you awake?
Levi nods, eyes still closed
Me: Can you give me a high five?
Levi shakes his head a few times, then nods
I hold out my hand
Levi highfives a few various invisible hands
Levi shakes his head
So in both of the above cases [yes they really happened], I obviously affected their dreams, more or less. With Luke though, I could only affect his dream up to a certain point. So at what level of consciousness do I affect their dreams? At what level of consciousness is it not really a dream for them? Since consciousness can't be measured these questions may never be answered.
Unless of course in 10 years from now, we discover a way to measure consciousness.
