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The Dream Drugstore: Chemically Altered States of Consciousness
An investigation into the brain's chemistry and the mechanisms of chemically altered states of consciousness.
In this book, J. Allan Hobson offers a new understanding of altered states of consciousness based on knowledge of how our brain chemistry is balanced when we are awake and how that balance shifts when we fall asleep and dream. He draws on recent research that enables us to explain how psychedelic drugs work to disturb that balance and how similar imbalances may cause depression and schizophrenia. He also draws on work that expands our understanding of how certain drugs can correct imbalances and restore the brain's natural equilibrium.
Hobson explains the chemical balance concept in terms of what we know about the regulation of normal states of consciousness over the course of the day by brain chemicals called neuromodulators. He presents striking confirmation of the principle that every drug that has transformative effects on consciousness interacts with the brain's own consciousness-altering chemicals. In the section called "The Medical Drugstore," Hobson describes drugs used to counteract anxiety and insomnia, to raise and lower mood, and to eliminate or diminish the hallucinations and delusions of schizophrenia. He discusses the risks involved in their administration, including the possibility of new disorders caused by indiscriminate long-term use. In "The Recreational Drugstore," Hobson discusses psychedelic drugs, narcotic analgesia, and natural drugs. He also considers the distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate drug use. In the concluding "Psychological Drugstore," he discusses the mind as an agent, not just the mediator, of change, and corrects many erroneous assumptions and practices that hinder the progress of psychoanalysis.
In this book, J. Allan Hobson offers a new understanding of altered states of consciousness based on knowledge of how our brain chemistry is balanced when we are awake and how that balance shifts when we fall asleep and dream. He draws on recent research that enables us to explain how psychedelic drugs work to disturb that balance and how similar imbalances may cause depression and schizophrenia. He also draws on work that expands our understanding of how certain drugs can correct imbalances and restore the brain's natural equilibrium.
Hobson explains the chemical balance concept in terms of what we know about the regulation of normal states of consciousness over the course of the day by brain chemicals called neuromodulators. He presents striking confirmation of the principle that every drug that has transformative effects on consciousness interacts with the brain's own consciousness-altering chemicals. In the section called "The Medical Drugstore," Hobson describes drugs used to counteract anxiety and insomnia, to raise and lower mood, and to eliminate or diminish the hallucinations and delusions of schizophrenia. He discusses the risks involved in their administration, including the possibility of new disorders caused by indiscriminate long-term use. In "The Recreational Drugstore," Hobson discusses psychedelic drugs, narcotic analgesia, and natural drugs. He also considers the distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate drug use. In the concluding "Psychological Drugstore," he discusses the mind as an agent, not just the mediator, of change, and corrects many erroneous assumptions and practices that hinder the progress of psychoanalysis.
349 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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About the author
J. Allan Hobson
48 books24 followersJohn Allan Hobson is an American psychiatrist and dream researcher. He is known for his research on rapid eye movement sleep. He is Professor of Psychiatry, Emeritus, Harvard Medical School, and Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 20, 2007
In 2003, I was projects editor at my newspaper and I enlisted a group of reporters to write a series on dreams and what they mean, based on the best scientific research available. This book helped me understand much of the brain chemistry of dreaming. Written by a Harvard psychiatrist, it refutes Freud's theory that dreams were expressions of repressed instinctual drives, and says they reflect normal brain activation during sleep, using a different neurotransmitter system than during waking hours. Working memory is suppressed and long-term memory is activated, explaining much of the content. It also helps explain why most dreams are negative in content.
February 10, 2011
Definitely not a "fun" read. But Hobson is amazing! I'm not %100 sold on his AIM model but it's the best thing I've read so far in relating how the brain changes from a waking to a sleeping state
October 15, 2023
A fascinating book about the neuroscience of dreaming, including lucid dreaming and hallucinations. The first part was really interesting, especially how Hobson explains the AIM model. The middle part gets pretty technical and harder to read as he keeps reiterating the functioning of certain parts of the brain but in depth. The final part is a bit lighter and connects with other phenomena, psychotherapy and other altered state issues.
I did enjoy it, but this is not for the neophytes. Also, it's important to take it as highly speculative (and old in terms of the neuroscience field) as we still can't map or understand many of Hobson's intuitions. I personally feel it tried to cover too much and some parts became very repetitive without providing new insights beyond a bit more description (also he had a big beef with Freudians haha). All this said, it was a highly informative book and worth reading if you have a basic neuroscientific foundation or interested in how the dream machinery work. If anything, I wished he had touched a bit more on things like meditation, trance, mantra singing, etc. He does mention it but very slightly, trying to avoid hurting people's beliefs as he clearly has a very different personal opinion. I wished though, he had gone a bit deeper in those parts.
I did enjoy it, but this is not for the neophytes. Also, it's important to take it as highly speculative (and old in terms of the neuroscience field) as we still can't map or understand many of Hobson's intuitions. I personally feel it tried to cover too much and some parts became very repetitive without providing new insights beyond a bit more description (also he had a big beef with Freudians haha). All this said, it was a highly informative book and worth reading if you have a basic neuroscientific foundation or interested in how the dream machinery work. If anything, I wished he had touched a bit more on things like meditation, trance, mantra singing, etc. He does mention it but very slightly, trying to avoid hurting people's beliefs as he clearly has a very different personal opinion. I wished though, he had gone a bit deeper in those parts.
February 26, 2023
Currently reading, recommended by Andrew Hubermann.. Both Freud and Jung were absolutely correct in the importance they ascribed to dreams. Yet this book repudiates Freud, in a way in which I'm not sure I completely understand. An ambitious book in scope, and one that I probably need to re-read to fully understand
Interestingly explains why we cannot remember our dreams - the malleability of the term "consciousness" - why the brain state whilst dreaming is very similar to the brain state when administered ketamine...
This is one of those brilliants books that makes you realise that the dichotomy between (1) subjective, euphoric experiences and (2) "objective" empirically measurable data is an utterly false one
But what is undeniably true is the impact Freud has, and his unique capacity to evoke fairly emotive (I can't think of any other word!) responses from otherwise "hardened" scientists. Robert Sapolsky, too.
Staggering level of insight from this author, who is certainly ahead of his time. His kookiness reverbates from the pages - he is exactly what a Harvard professor should be. Bizarre, brilliant, unforgettable.
Interestingly explains why we cannot remember our dreams - the malleability of the term "consciousness" - why the brain state whilst dreaming is very similar to the brain state when administered ketamine...
This is one of those brilliants books that makes you realise that the dichotomy between (1) subjective, euphoric experiences and (2) "objective" empirically measurable data is an utterly false one
But what is undeniably true is the impact Freud has, and his unique capacity to evoke fairly emotive (I can't think of any other word!) responses from otherwise "hardened" scientists. Robert Sapolsky, too.
Staggering level of insight from this author, who is certainly ahead of his time. His kookiness reverbates from the pages - he is exactly what a Harvard professor should be. Bizarre, brilliant, unforgettable.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews