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From: Robert Kuhn [
Sent: 4/8/2017 6:28:05 AM
To: jeffrey E. [jeeyacation@gmail.com]
Subject: Re: Kuhn - The Science of Sleep and Dreams
Importance: High
Just arrived NY, here for —10 days.
Now with the Trump-Xi Summit over (utterly overwhelmed by Syria strike), back to Closer To Truth.
When good to meet?
Robert
On Mar 23, 2017, at 4:23 PM, jeffrey E. <jeevacation@gmail.com> wrote:
Look forward to seeing you
On Thu, Mar 23, 2017 at 3:54 PM Robert Kuhn < wrote:
Hi: Just returned from a month in China. Attached is my summary of recent politics (in South China Morning
Post), and pics of moderating (at request of govts of China and Israel) the PM's discussion with leading
Chinese technologist (Baidu CEO, dominant Chinese search engine). The PM was in China for 25th
anniversary of diplomatic relations
Back to CTT, my 'true love'... Love to discuss Science of Sleep & Dreams project. I'm in LA for week and
then NY April 8-18.
Warm regards, Robert
On Feb 15, 2017, at 1:29 PM, Robert Kuhn 1> wrote:
501 (c) (3) - private operating foundation - The Kuhn Foundation, which I set up in 1999 to support Closer To
Truth. IRS letter attached.
Thank you.
<Kuhn Foundation IRS Tax Exempt Determination Letter 1999, 2015.pdf>
On Feb 15, 2017, at 4:17 PM, jeffrey E. <jeevacation@gmail.com> wrote:
is it a charity that received the funding?
On Wed, Feb 15, 2017 at 1:27 AM, Robert Lawrence Kuhn <1> wrote:
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Pardon the formality below - I want to approach your very legitimate questions / concerns in a serious
manner.
Attached and below the same.
Dear Jeffrey:
As requested, the following addresses your two questions / concerns about our proposed Closer To Truth TV
series "The Science of Sleep and Dreams":
(i) Have there been sufficient breakthroughs in Sleep and Dreams (significantly beyond traditional
understandings) to justify a major TV series?
(ii) Even if 'yes' to (i), is now the proper time for such a foundational series, or are more years needed for
corroborative studies and further research to solidify the breakthroughs?
In preparing this response, my primary source is Professor Patrick McNamara, Department of Neurology,
Boston University School of Medicine, with whom CTT Producer/Director Peter Getzels and I spoke with at
length today. Patrick is one of the leading sleep and dream researchers (he himself more dreams). More
importantly, he is perhaps the leading chronicler of the field, with many publications (including 26 entries in
related encyclopedias). He is co-editor-in-chief of the "Encyclopedia of Sleep and Dreams" (2012) and
the sole author of the forthcoming "An Introduction to the Neuroscience of Sleep and Dreams" (Cambridge
University Press, 2018), which intends to present the latest science and to become a main textbook for
graduate courses/seminars. Patrick is a CTT contributor and colleague.
When we asked Patrick, his first response — "This is the ideal time to tell the sleep-and-dreams story" — and he
cited (in essence) your two questions, in that (i) the multiple breakthroughs are now sufficiently well
corroborated by numerous independent labs such that a substantial foundation for the new, deeper
understanding of sleep and dreams is now for the first time (over the past few years) confirmed and
established, and (ii) there are now interesting application and critical clinical questions to pose, explore and
pursue, such as for the treatment of various mental-related illnesses that have known sleep-related syndromes
(e.g., PTSD and Depression).
To understand the significance of recent breakthroughs, a defining characteristic of sleep and dreams is that
there are two distinct kinds of sleep — REM (rapid-eye-movement) Sleep and NREM (non-rapid-eye-
movement) Sleep. Most dreams are associated with REM sleep (though complex). The eye movement
gives the eponymous name, but a more important designation defines the two stages in terms of brain waves
(electroencephalograph — EEG): REM is Fast-Wave Sleep (similar to the waking state) and NREM Sleep is
Slow-Wave Sleep (very different from the waking state). This difference between REM and NREM sleep has
been known since 1953 (different EEGs since 1937), but its deep significance has only been discovered and
confirmed in very recent years (as explained below).
Following are the key areas of breakthrough in sleep and dreams (from Patrick). Patrick states that these are
now reproducible, non-controversial, and well-accepted among experts, although still not appreciated by the
public - hence the high value of our CTT TV series. The organizing idea is why and how are sleep and dreams
essential for normal memory consolidation and bodily health / well-being.
Memory Consolidation. There is a fundamental difference between REM and NREM Sleep for memory
consolidation: REM is for emotional memories, whereas NREM is for declarative and procedural memories.
Hence, understanding and dealing with REM emotional memories can lead to treatment for the many
neuropsychiatric illnesses that have sleep/dream-related disorders or syndromes (Parkinson's Disease,
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Anxiety, Substance Abuse, many sleep disorders such as Nightmare Disorder, etc., in addition to PTSD and
Depression). Research shows bi-directional causality between neuropsychiatric disorders and sleep disorders.
This is a superb example of how fundamental science breakthroughs lead to clinical breakthroughs. This fact
that REM is associated with emotional memories is nicely consistent with the apparent psychotic nature of
dreams, because in REM Sleep the frontal cortex is 'down-regulated' (and the frontal cortex is associated with
rational planning, reflection, controlling impulses), while in REM Sleep the limbic system is 'up-regulated"
(and the limbic system is associated with emotions and feelings) — see Neuroimaging below. This is
why dream states flood the ego with emotional fantasies without rational control. However, it is also true that
the limbic system enables creative ideas, thus grounding in science the long-suspected idea that sleep and
dreams can enhance creativity.
As Dr. Robert Stickgold, our other advisor on the series, wrote: "It would be nice if we could talk about sleep
and memory as if there were only one type of memory and one type of sleep. But this is far from the case.
Sleep and memory each comes in many forms, and furthermore, memories can go through multiple forms of
post-encoding processing that must be individually addressed."
Immunity / Immune System. Strengthening the immune system is now a proven product of NREM sleep.
Discerning the evolutionary basis for this is a key research project (i.e., it seems counter-intuitive
that sleeping facilitates fitness for survival in that predators lurked in the jungles and on the plains so that
going unconscious during sleep does not, at first glance, seem especially adaptive). Studies of sleep in various
non-human animals reveals a direct relationship between longer periods of NREM (Slow-Wave) Sleep and a
stronger immune system, especially in fighting parasites. NREM Sleep releases molecules that
fight inflection; NREM Sleep works for the maintenance, repair and activation of the immune system. (This
gives scientific rationale for the need or desire to sleep during illnesses.) Related are "genetic conflict" studies
with respect to REM and NREM, showing differences in heredity between material and paternal lines, and
differences between males and females in which genes get "imprinted".
Neuroplasticity. Exciting recent research has reversed the century-long conventional wisdom that new
neurons are never created in adult animals/humans. The development of new neurons — neuronogenesis — is a
vital part of maintaining normal brain and mental functioning. New neurons are being created, importantly, in
the hippocampus (brain organ where new memories are encoded) — but, remarkably, the neuronogensis in
the hippocampus occurs only/largely during REM Sleep — a stunning finding. This is another reason why
REM sleep is needed for emotional memory consolidation (normal functioning).
Dream-Content. Although dreams have sparked human fascination and fantasy for thousands of years, only
in very recent years, have large-scale surveys been conducted with rigorous design, classifications and
statistical analysis. Literally hundreds of thousands of dreams are enabling statistically significant theories,
including cross-cultural analyses (similarities and differences). Dream-posting sites have revolutionized size
and structure of dream data sets. This enables, for the first time, longitudinal studies of dreams over time.
Patterns are repeated. For example, in general, the dreams of males and females differ in fundamental ways.
Males will engage in fighting with other males; females with both males and females. Male dreamers
are often the initiator of fights and the fights are usually physical. Females fight verbally. Aggressiveness
by the dreamer is almost always in REM Sleep, rarely in NREM Sleep. (Why is a continuing question.)
"Lucid Dreaming" is a new area of fascinating research. Lucid Dreaming is where the dreamer "knows" that
he/she is dreaming while dreaming (a talent that a small minority possesses but more can be
trained/developed). Lucid dreamers, while sleeping, can now communicate with experimenters by altering
their brain activity and thus becoming detectable by neuroimaging techniques (see below).
Neuroimaging. Finally, neuroimaging technology has enabled many of these breakthroughs. As such, it is
itself a methodological breakthrough that has enabled these other content breakthroughs. Neuroimaging now
enables detailed location of the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of REM and NREM Sleep. In
REM Sleep, the dorsolateral, frontal cortex is "down-regulated", whereas the limbic system is "up-regulated",
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showing the physiological basis for the emotional, wild-fantasies of dreams (see above). (Neuroimaging will
enable good visual images for the TV series without extra costs.)
Patrick stresses that while these breakthroughs form, for the first time, a solid foundation for understanding
sleep and dreams, they also open opportunities to dig deeper into the "purpose" of sleep and dreams, as well
as engender a new series of questions and directions (e.g., clinical treatments of illnesses).
Attached is Patrick's quick compiling of summaries of a few recent leading research papers (2009 — 2017,
especially 2015-2017).
You'd enjoy speaking with him, if you want.
Love to do this series together with you.
Much appreciate and warm regards,
Robert
please note
The information contained in this communication is
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JEE
Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of this
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and may be unlawful. If you have received this
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return e-mail or by e-mail to jeevacation@gmail.com, and
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please note
The information contained in this communication is
confidential, may be attorney-client privileged, may
constitute inside information, and is intended only for
the use of the addressee. It is the property of
JEE
Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of this
communication or any part thereof is strictly prohibited
and may be unlawful. If you have received this
communication in error, please notify us immediately by
return e-mail or by e-mail to jeevacation@gmail.com, and
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destroy this communication and all copies thereof,
including all attachments. copyright -all rights reserved
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