Comment · Fri, January 17, 2014 · Ceretropic
1 week of Alpha Brain = terrifying lucid nightmares
Original post in this thread
cb33 · 36 points
I wanted to see what the hype was about and while I did see an increase in concentration and productivity, I also began having lucid nightmares that are bad enough that I can't go back to sleep. I'm no pussy, but these nightmares are long, detailed, and the most terrifying experiences that I recall ever having.
What they were answering
TestUserD · 1 points
So consciousness is a hypothetical construct now?
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · Ceretropic
If consciousness is being referred to in a construct that can be observed and verified, then no. However, making the jump from a pharmacological mechanism being the cause of the nightmares to a more metaphysical explanation, without any evidence pointing in that direction, is not scientific. This is especially true when the pharmacological mechanism, in this case ACh modulation, is well known to have these effects.
We can debate the effects that one's consciousness has on nightmares all we want. However, the most scientifically relevant answer to OP's question is that the Huperazine-A and choline precursors are the cause for the vivid dreams. The nature of those dreams could be relevant, or completely random. We cannot know for sure given the information we have, so why even debate it?