On the Relation of Dreams, Thought, Memory, and Smell - Psychologist World
On the Relation of Dreams, Thought, Memory, and Smell
by Frank Martin DiMeglio. Submitted: July 20th, 2008
Dreams involve a fundamental integration and spreading of being and experience
at the mid-range of feeling between thought and sense. Since dreams [already]
involve a fundamental integration and spreading of being and experience at what
is the mid-range of feeling between thought and sense, the sense of smell very
rarely occurs while dreaming, and the lighting and sound levels are fairly constant
(and proper) therein. Memory integrates experience. There is less memory in
the dream because experience is already better integrated, and also because
experience is less extensive. Dreams improve upon memory and understanding by
increasing (or adding to) the integrated extensiveness of being and experience
(including thought) in and with time. The sense of relative familiarity involving
dream experience is associated with the improvement of understanding and memory
therein. Dreams and memory integrate experience; and both add to the extensiveness
of experience (including thought) as well, while involving a [relative] reduction
in the totality of experience.
Since the self has extensiveness of being and experience (in and with time)
in conjunction with the integrated and natural extensiveness of sensory experience,
we spend less time dreaming (and sleeping) than waking. The integrated extensiveness
of being and experience go hand in hand.
Emotion that is comprehensive and balanced advances consciousness. Dreams are
an emotional experience. The comprehensiveness and consistency of both intention
and concern are central to our consciousness, life, and growth. (Desire consists
of both intention and concern, thereby including interest as well.) The comprehensiveness
and consistency of both intention and concern in relation to experience in general
is ultimately dependent upon the natural and integrated extensiveness of sensory
experience. In keeping with this, consciousness and language involve the ability
to represent, form, and experience comprehensive approximations of experience
in general; and this includes art and music as well. If the self did not represent,
form, and experience a comprehensive approximation of experience in general,
we would be incapable of growth and of becoming other than we are.
Thought involves a relative reduction in the range and extensiveness of feeling.
In keeping with this, dreams make thought more like sensory experience in general.
Accordingly, both thought and also the range and extensiveness of feeling are
proportionately reduced in the dream. (This reduction in the range and extensiveness
of feeling during dreams is consistent with the fact that the experience of
smell very rarely occurs therein.) Since there is a proportionate reduction
of both thought and feeling during dreams, the experience of the body is generally
(or significantly) lacking; for thought is fundamentally rendered more like
sensory experience in general. Thoughts and emotions are differentiated feelings.
By involving the mid-range of feeling between thought and sense, dreams make
thought more like sensory experience in general. The reduction in the range
and extensiveness of feeling during dreams is why there is less memory and thought
therein.
About the Author
Frank Martin DiMeglio was born in Newport, Rhode Island. He has had considerable
success in managing, understanding, and overcoming both depression and anxiety,
and he has been very actively engaged in studying philosophy and psychology
for the past 8 years. Mr. DiMeglio has a Bachelor of Science degree (cum laude)
in Geography and Environmental Planning from Towson University (1987). He currently
lives in Middle River, Maryland, and he is working on his second book.
