Do REM (lucid) dreamed and executed actions share the same neural substrate?

This paper addresses the correlation of dreamed and actual actions. This issue is related to the theory of neural simulation of action. The simulation theory postulates that, in general, covert actions are actual actions relying on the same brain regions, except for the fact that they are not executed. By reviewing studies conducted in the field of dream and lucid dream research on REM sleep it will be shown that correlations between dreamed and actual actions can be found for central nervous activity, autonomic responses and time aspects. Recent findings from research on lucid dreaming and motor learning further support the notion that actions in dreams are represented on higher cognitive levels - equivalent to actual movements - and therefore share, to some extent, the same central structures. The reviewed findings will be discussed and future directions will be given

Critical oxygenation: Can muscle oxygenation inform us about critical power?

The power-duration relationship is well documented for athletic performance and is formulated out mathematically in the critical power (CP) model. The CP model, when applied properly, has great predictive power, e. g. pedaling at a specific power output on an ergometer the model precisely calculates the time over which an athlete can sustain this power. However, CP presents physiological inconsistencies and process-oriented problems. The rapid development of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure muscle oxygenation (SmO2) dynamics provides a physiological exploration of the CP model on a conceptual and empirical level. Conceptually, the CP model provides two components: first CP is defined as the highest metabolic rate that can be achieved through oxidative means. And second, work capacity above CP named W’. SmO2 presents a steady-state in oxygen supply and demand and thereby represents CP specifically at a local level of analysis. Empirically, exploratory data quickly illustrates the relationship between performance and SmO2, as shown during 3-min allout cycling tests to assess CP. During these tests, performance and SmO2 essentially mirror each other, and both CP and W’ generate solid correlation with what would be deemed their SmO2 counterparts: first, the steady-state of SmO2 correlates with CP. And second, the tissue oxygen reserve represented in SmO2, when calculated as an integral corresponds to W’. While the empirical data presented is preliminary, the proposition of a concurring physiological model to the current CP model is a plausible inference. Here we propose that SmO2 steady-state representing CP as critical oxygenation or CO. And the tissue oxygen reserve above CO would then be identified as O’. This new CO model could fill in the physiological gap between the highly predictive CP model and at times its inability to track human physiology consistently. For simplicity’s sake, this would include acute changes in physiology as a result of changing climate or elevation with travel, which can affect performance. These types of acute fluctuations, but not limited to, would be manageable when applying a CO model in conjunction with the CP model. Further, modeling is needed to investigate the true potential of NIRS to model CP, with a focus on repeatability, recovery, and systemic vs local workloads

Motorisches Lernen im luziden Traum: Phänomenologische und experimentelle Betrachtungen

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird untersucht, inwiefern motorische Lernprozesse durch ein Training innerhalb luzider Träume angeregt werden können. Luzide Träume sind Träume, in denen sich der Träumende seines Zustands bewusst ist und damit Einfluss auf das Traumgeschehen nehmen kann. Das luzide Träumen ist grundsätzlich ein Phänomen des Schlafs, d.h., dass das Training im luziden Traum während des Schlafs stattfindet und somit den kognitiven Strategien im sportlichen Training zugewiesen werden kann. Innerhalb der Arbeit werden Parallelen zwischen dem Training im luziden Traum und dem mentalen Training bzw. der Bewegungsvorstellung herausgearbeitet. Die Theorie der neuronalen Simulation bietet aufgrund zahlreicher empirischer Befunde eine Grundlage, um die Äquivalenz zwischen tatsächlichen und vorgestellten Bewegungen zu beschreiben. Weiterhin werden die für das Verständnis notwendigen Grundlagen des luziden Träumens geliefert (Definition, Häufigkeit, Einflussfaktoren, physiologische Grundlagen, etc.) und Bezüge zwischen der Schlafforschung bzw. Traumforschung und der Sportwissenschaft dargestellt. In einer Reihe von Studien werden grundlagenbezogene, effektorientierte sowie anwendungsbezogene Implikationen des Trainings im luziden Traum untersucht. In den grundlagenbezogenen Studien wird gezeigt, dass Zusammenhänge zwischen zentralnervösen, peripher-physiologischen (z.B. Herzrate) sowie zeitlichen Parametern und Aktivitäten im luziden Traum bestehen. In den effektorientierten Studien wird nachgewiesen, dass das gezielte Üben einer motorischen Fertigkeit im luziden Traum möglich ist. Darüber hinaus bieten die Studien erste Hinweise dafür, dass das Training im luziden Traum zu motorischen Lerneffekten führt. In den anwendungsbezogenen Studien wird gezeigt, dass das luzide Träumen bereits von Sporttreibenden für die Leistungsverbesserung eingesetzt wird. Dies wird anhand von Einzelfällen und zwei Befragungen im Feld verdeutlicht. Zusammenfassend eröffnen die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Arbeit verschiedene Möglichkeiten für die Sportpraxis als auch für die Sporttheorie und erweisen sich als ein fruchtbares Gebiet für die Sportwissenschaft

Combining Wake-Up-Back-to-Bed with Cognitive Induction Techniques: Does Earlier Sleep Interruption Reduce Lucid Dream Induction Rate?

Lucid dreaming offers the chance to investigate dreams from within a dream and by real-time dialogue between experimenters and dreamers during REM sleep. This state of consciousness opens a new experimental venue for dream research. However, laboratory study in this field is limited due to the rarity of lucid dreamers. In a previous study, we were able to induce in 50% of the participants a lucid dream in a single sleep laboratory night by combining a wake-up-back-to-bed (WBTB) sleep routine and a mnemonic method (Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams, MILD). In three experiments, we tried to replicate our earlier findings while we adapted our procedure in shortening (Exp1–3: 4.5 vs. 6 h of uninterrupted sleep in the first half of the night), simplifying (Exp2: time-based wakening vs. REM wakening in the second half of the night), and applying another induction technique (Exp3: reality testing vs. MILD). In the three conditions, four out of 15 (26%), zero out of 20 (0%), and three out of 15 (20%) participants reported a lucid dream. Compared to the original study, the earlier sleep interruption seems to reduce the lucid dream induction rate. Furthermore, without REM awakenings in the morning, lucid dream induction failed, whereas reality testing showed a lower success rate compared to MILD. Further systematic sleep laboratory studies are needed to develop reliable techniques for lucid dream research

Induction of lucid dreams: A systematic review of evidence

In lucid dreams the dreamer is aware of dreaming and often able to influence the ongoing dream content. Lucid dreaming is a learnable skill and a variety of techniques is suggested for lucid dreaming induction. This systematic review evaluated the evidence for the effectiveness of induction techniques. A comprehensive literature search was carried out in biomedical databases and specific resources. Thirty-five studies were included in the analysis (11 sleep laboratory and 24 field studies), of which 26 employed cognitive techniques, 11 external stimulation and one drug application. The methodological quality of the included studies was relatively low. None of the induction techniques were verified to induce lucid dreams reliably and consistently, although some of them look promising. On the basis of the reviewed studies, a taxonomy of lucid dream induction methods is presented. Several methodological issues are discussed and further directions for future studies are proposed

Extending mental practice to sleep: Enhancing motor skills through lucid dreaming

Improving motor performance without physical movements might seem counterintuitive, however, decades of research on mental practice have demonstrated its feasibility. The phenomenon of lucid dreaming – i.e. becoming aware of the current dream state during ongoing sleep – bears some resemblance to mental practice: behaviors such as motor tasks can be intentionally simulated with mental imagery. During lucid dreaming, however, the brain generates a highly immersive, VR-like environment and realistic proprioceptive impressions to match the mental practitioner’s needs. In recent years the hypothesis was thus proposed that lucid dreaming can be used to extend motor practice to the sleeping state, thereby improving motor performance during subsequent wakefulness. Here, we examine this hypothesis by exploring the theoretical foundations and efficacy of this inventive approach in sports science and beyond. Experimental studies show promising performance improvements after lucid dreaming motor practice. Similarities have been observed in brain activity, eye movements, muscle activity, and autonomic responses compared to physical practice support the potential of lucid dreaming practice. Surveys show that athlete populations already implement lucid dreaming practice as part of their training. Potential placebo effects and an increase in motivation after lucid dreaming practice in the post-test should be investigated in future studies. Also, some well-known practical challenges of lucid dream research, such as its rarity, lack of proper training, and lack of control over the dream, need to be addressed. Eliminating these limitations will strengthen the potential of this inventive approach and enable lucid dreaming practice to be incorporated into various disciplines in the future

An overview of psoriatic arthritis – epidemiology, clinical features, pathophysiology and novel treatment targets

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory joint disease occurring in a subgroup of patients suffering from psoriasis. This article gives an overview of the complexity of psoriatic arthritis, looking at several aspects of this heterogeneous disease, such as epidemiology, important clinical features and comorbidities as well as current concepts of the pathophysiology and subsequent insights in novel treatment targets.(VLID)348921

Muscle Oxygen Saturation Breakpoints Reflect Ventilatory Thresholds in Both Cycling and Running.

Pulmonary gas exchange analysis was compared to changes in muscle oxygen saturation as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. First, ventilatory thresholds determined by common gas exchange analysis and breakpoints in muscle oxygen saturation were assessed for agreement during exercise with increasing intensity. Secondly, the relationship between muscle oxygen saturation as a surrogate for local oxygen extraction and peak oxygen uptake was assessed. In order to lend robustness to future NIRS testing on a broader scale, considering its potential for simple and cost-effective application, the question of a running versus a cycling modality was integrated into the design. Ten participants, of whom five were recreationally trained cyclists and five recreationally trained runners, were tested; each during a cycling test and a running test with increasing intensity to voluntary exhaustion. Muscle oxygen saturation and pulmonary gas exchange measurements were conducted. Bland-Altman analysis showed a moderate degree of agreement between both muscle oxygen saturation breakpoint 1 and muscle oxygen saturation breakpoint 2 and corresponding ventilatory threshold 1 and ventilatory threshold 2, for both cycling and running disciplines; generally speaking, muscle oxygen saturation breakpoints underestimated ventilatory thresholds. Additionally, a strong relationship could be seen between peak oxygen uptake and the minimally attained muscle oxygen saturation during cycling exercise. Muscle oxygen saturation measured using NIRS was determined to be a suitable method to assess ventilatory thresholds by finding breakpoints in muscle oxygen saturation, and muscle oxygen saturation minimum was linked to peak oxygen uptake

Is healthcare a team sport? Widening our lens on interprofessional collaboration and education in sport and exercise medicine.

Effective interprofessional collaboration (IPC) has great potential to improve healthcare delivery. Therefore, students and trainees in healthcare professions should be prepared for a collaborative workforce through interprofessional education (IPE) settings. However, IPC and IPE are rarely addressed in sport and exercise medicine (SEM), although the field significantly impacts the healthcare system. Hence, we conducted a webinar to promote IPC and IPE in the Swiss SEM community. The lessons resulting from the webinar were: (1) professions involved in SEM should have opportunities to learn, with, from and about other professions in healthcare to achieve mutual respect and understanding; (2) IPC and IPE in SEM may raise awareness, value and recognition of the contributions by exercise scientists in healthcare; (3) IPC and IPE may consider collaborating with a variety of professions not traditionally integrated into healthcare but involved in broader public health and physical activity promotion. In summary, sports and exercise professions should embrace interprofessional approaches to better realise their contribution to healthcare and public health