Sleep is the regular state of natural rest observed in all mammals, birds and fish. Sleep is not actually "unconsciousness," but rather, it is a natural state of rest characterized by a reduction in voluntary body movement and decreased awareness of the surroundings. Therefore, since consciousness is literally the awareness of the surroundings, being asleep is just an altered state of consciousness, as opposed to being unconscious. It is heavily influenced by circadian rhythms, and by hormonal and environmental factors as well. Sleep ...

Including:

• Sleep - Sleep physiology
• Sleep - Methodology
• Sleep - Sleep regulation
• Sleep - Stages of sleep
• Sleep - Theories regarding the function of sleep
• Sleep - Dreaming
• Sleep - Sleep deprivation
• Sleep - Sleep disorders
• Sleep - Animal sleep
• Sleep - Approaches to sleeping better
• Sleep - Drugs and sleep
• Sleep - Sleep aiding
• Sleep - Stimulant drugs

Read more here: » Sleep: Encyclopedia - Sleep

See also:

Sleep, Sleep - Sleep physiology, Sleep - Methodology, Sleep - Sleep regulation, Sleep - Stages of sleep, Sleep - Theories regarding the function of sleep, Sleep - Dreaming, Sleep - Sleep deprivation, Sleep - Sleep disorders, Sleep - Animal sleep, Sleep - Approaches to sleeping better, Sleep - Drugs and sleep, Sleep - Sleep aiding, Sleep - Stimulant drugs

Read more here: » Sleep: Encyclopedia II - Sleep - Theories regarding the function of sleep

Restorative theories of sleep describe sleep as a dynamic time of healing and growth for organisms. For example, during stages 3 and 4, or slow wave sleep, growth hormone levels increase, and changes in immune function occur. The myriad illnesses associated with sleep deprivation testify to its restorative function. According to the Ontogenetic Hypothesis of REM sleep, the activity occurring during neonatal REM sleep (or Active Sleep) seems to be particularly important to the developing organism (Marks et al., 1995). Studies investiga ...

See also:

Sleep, Sleep - Sleep physiology, Sleep - Methodology, Sleep - Sleep regulation, Sleep - Stages of sleep, Sleep - Theories regarding the function of sleep, Sleep - Dreaming, Sleep - Sleep deprivation, Sleep - Sleep disorders, Sleep - Animal sleep, Sleep - Approaches to sleeping better, Sleep - Drugs and sleep, Sleep - Sleep aiding, Sleep - Stimulant drugs

Read more here: » Sleep: Encyclopedia II - Sleep - Theories regarding the function of sleep

The number of similarities between the function of a two-way radio and the human body are quite surprising. The body/mind constantly emits all aspects of our internal state to the environment, and receives input from the world in the same manner.

In any discussion of group mind phenomena, it is impossible not to enter into the subject of psychic effect, as well as the principles of natural law such as resonance or vibration (feeling/frequency) that make it possible. Similarly, it is not possible to fully understand psychic effects without a minimum coverage of the energy or chi upon which it is based.

Read more here: » Group Mind: The Group Mind Principle II

The mysterious Tradition of Tantra

This article attempts to outline, in an extremely general way, some basic ideas of the Tantric tradition. Even though the author has a rich personal experience in some of the practical aspects of TANTRISM, the intention here is not to expose a personal view, but to present the Tradition in its most pure form, without any kind of "western interpretations" that most of the time kill and destroy the authentic meaning. This is done with the sincere intention to revive, mostly from the practical point of view, this lost Tradition and to reveal the true face of TANTRA Science.

Read more here: » Tantra Yoga: The Left Hand Path of Love - Tantra

Consciousness is a quality of the mind generally regarded to comprise such key features as subjectivity, self-awareness, sentience, sapience, and the ability to perceive the relationship between oneself and one's environment. It is a subject of much research in philosophy of mind, psychology, neurology, and cognitive science. Some philosophers divide consciousness into phenomenal consciousness, which is experience itself, and access consciousness, which is the processing of the things in experience (Block 2004). Others consider ...

Including:

• Consciousness - Etymology
• Consciousness - Consciousness and language
• Consciousness - Cognitive neuroscience approaches
• Consciousness - Philosophical approaches
• Consciousness - Phenomenal and access consciousness
• Consciousness - The description and location of phenomenal consciousness
• Consciousness - Access consciousness
• Consciousness - Physical approaches
• Consciousness - Spiritual approaches
• Consciousness - Functions of consciousness
• Consciousness - Tests of consciousness
• Consciousness - Turing Test
• Consciousness - Mirror test
• Consciousness - Cognitive Neuroscience
• Consciousness - Philosophy
• Consciousness - Physical Theories of Consciousness
• Consciousness - People
• Consciousness - Miscellaneous

Read more here: » Consciousness: Encyclopedia - Consciousness

Sadism is the sexual pleasure or gratification in the infliction of pain and suffering upon another person. The word is derived from the name of the Marquis de Sade, a prolific French philosopher-writer of sadistic novels. The counterpart of sadism is masochism, the sexual pleasure or gratification of having pain or suffering inflicted upon the self, often consisting of sexual fantasies or urges for being beaten, humiliated, bound, tortured, or otherwise made to suffer, either as an enhancement to or a substitute for sex ...

Including:

• Sadism and masochism - The biology of S&M
• Sadism and masochism - The psychology of S&M
• Sadism and masochism - Sadism and masochism in real life
• Sadism and masochism - Sadism as a motivation for crime
• Sadism and masochism - Sadism and masochism in fiction

Read more here: » Sadism and masochism: Encyclopedia - Sadism and masochism

In religion, the term "Animism" is used in a number of ways. Animism (from animus, or anima, mind or soul), originally means the doctrine of spiritual beings. It is often extended to include the belief that personalized, supernatural beings (or souls) endowed with reason, intelligence and volition inhabit ordinary objects as well as animate beings, and govern their existence (pantheism or animatism). More simply, the belief is that "everything is alive", "everything is conscious" or "everything has ...

Including:

• Animism - Overview
• Animism - Origins
• Animism - Plant souls
• Animism - Object souls
• Animism - Animism and death
• Animism - Evil spirits
• Animism - Differences between animism and religion
• Animism - Animism and the origin of religion
• Animism - Animism and mythology
• Animism - Animism in philosophy
• Animism - Tylor
• Animism - List of phenomena believed to lead to animism
• Animism - The new animism

Read more here: » Animism: Encyclopedia - Animism

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology that Abraham Maslow proposed in his 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation, which he subsequently extended. His theory contends that as humans meet 'basic needs', they seek to satisfy successively 'higher needs' that occupy a set hierarchy. Maslow studied exemplary people such as Albert Einstein, Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Frederick Douglass rather than mentally ill or neurotic people, writing that "the study of crippled, stunted, immature, and unhealthy specimens can yield only a cripple psychology an ...

Including:

• Maslow's hierarchy of needs - Deficiency needs
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs - Being needs
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs - Counterpositions

Read more here: » Maslow's hierarchy of needs: Encyclopedia - Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Aum (also Om, ॐ) is the most sacred syllable in Hinduism, first coming to light in the Vedic Tradition. The syllable is sometimes referred to as the "Udgitha" or "pranava mantra" (primordial mantra); not only because it is considered to be the primal sound, but also because most mantras begin with it. As a seed syllable (bija), it is also considered holy in Esoteric Buddhism. In Devanagari it is written ॐ (Unicode U+0950) and in Tibetan script ༀ (Unicode U+0F00). Aum - The ...

Including:

• Aum - The Significance of the Symbol Om
• Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition
• Aum - Origin
• Aum - Philosophy of AUM
• Aum - Om in Jain tradition
• Aum - Om in Buddhist tradition
• Aum - Om in Sikh tradition
• Aum - When you pronounce AUM:
• Aum - Some quotations from Hindu scriptures regarding AUM
• Aum - Other traditions interpretations and understandings

Read more here: » Aum: Encyclopedia - Aum

Psychosis is a generic psychiatric term for mental states in which the components of rational thought and perception are severely impaired. Persons experiencing a psychosis may experience hallucinations, hold delusional beliefs (e.g. paranoid delusions), demonstrate personality changes and exhibit disorganized thinking (see thought disorder). This is often accompanied by lack of insight into the unusual or bizarre nature of such behavior, difficulties with social interaction and impairments in carrying out the activities of daily livi ...

Including:

• Psychosis - Overview
• Psychosis - Psychotic experience
• Psychosis - Hallucinations
• Psychosis - Delusions and paranoia
• Psychosis - Thought disorder
• Psychosis - Lack of insight
• Psychosis - Medical understanding of psychosis
• Psychosis - Psychosis and brain function
• Psychosis - Cannabis and psychosis
• Psychosis - Non-psychiatric conditions and psychosis

Read more here: » Psychosis: Encyclopedia - Psychosis

Brainwashing or thought reform is the application of coercive techniques to change the beliefs or behavior of one or more people for political purposes. Whether any techniques at all exist that will actually work to change thought and behavior to the degree that the term "brainwashing" connotes is a controversial and at times hotly debated question. Brainwashing - Origin of the term. The term "brainwashing" is a relatively new term in the English language. Before 1950, it did not exist. Earlier forms ...

Including:

• Brainwashing - Origin of the term
• Brainwashing - Present use of the term
• Brainwashing - Political brainwashing
• Brainwashing - Studies of the Korean War
• Brainwashing - The use of coercive persuasion techniques in China
• Brainwashing - Refutation of political brainwashing
• Brainwashing - Brainwashing controversy in new religious movements and cults
• Brainwashing - The APA and the brainwashing theories
• Brainwashing - Varying brainwashing concepts
• Brainwashing - Other voices
• Brainwashing - Brainwashing in fiction
• Brainwashing - Glossary
• Brainwashing - Bibliography

Read more here: » Brainwashing: Encyclopedia - Brainwashing

Cthulhu mythos is the term coined by the writer August Derleth to describe the shared themes, characters, and elements in the works of H.P. Lovecraft, his protegés, and writers influenced by him. Together, they form the mythos that authors, writing in the Lovecraftian milieu, have used—and continue to use—to craft their stories.[1] Although this mythology is sometimes called the Lovecraft Mythos—most notably by the Love ...

Including:

• Cthulhu mythos - Lovecraft and the mythos
• Cthulhu mythos - Cosmicism
• Cthulhu mythos - Imaginary New England setting
• Cthulhu mythos - Lovecraft's pantheon
• Cthulhu mythos - Cthulhuian pseudobiblia
• Cthulhu mythos - Structure of the mythos
• Cthulhu mythos - Derleth's involvement
• Cthulhu mythos - Derleth's elemental theory
• Cthulhu mythos - Conclusion
• Cthulhu mythos - Elements of the mythos
• Cthulhu mythos - Beings
• Cthulhu mythos - Cults in the mythos
• Cthulhu mythos - Arcane literature and other media
• Cthulhu mythos - Fictional locations
• Cthulhu mythos - Non-fictional elements of the mythos

Read more here: » Cthulhu mythos: Encyclopedia - Cthulhu mythos

Bipolar disorder, still often referred to colloquially as manic-depression, is a mood disorder marked by episodes of clinically definable depression intermingled with episodes of mania and/or hypomania. Emil Kraepelin, who first described the illness, and coined the term "manic depression", noted in his original delineation of the disease intervals of acute illness, manic or depressive, that were generally punctuated by relatively symptom-free intervals in which a patient was able to ...

Including:

• Bipolar disorder - Diagnostic criteria
• Bipolar disorder - Epidemiology
• Bipolar disorder - Etiology
• Bipolar disorder - Co-occurring conditions
• Bipolar disorder - Manifestations of bipolar disorder: types of episodes
• Bipolar disorder - Cycles in bipolar disorder
• Bipolar disorder - Domains of bipolar disorder
• Bipolar disorder - Mania
• Bipolar disorder - Hypomania
• Bipolar disorder - Bipolar depression
• Bipolar disorder - Cognition
• Bipolar disorder - The Mood Spectrum
• Bipolar disorder - Environmental factors affecting mood in bipolar disorder
• Bipolar disorder - Treatment of bipolar disorder
• Bipolar disorder - Principles
• Bipolar disorder - Prognosis
• Bipolar disorder - Lithium salts
• Bipolar disorder - Anticonvulsant mood stabilizers
• Bipolar disorder - Atypical antipsychotic drugs
• Bipolar disorder - Omega-3 fatty acids
• Bipolar disorder - Psychotherapy
• Bipolar disorder - Electroconvulsive therapy
• Bipolar disorder - Medical Marijuana
• Bipolar disorder - Alternative treatments
• Bipolar disorder - Treatment issues
• Bipolar disorder - Research findings
• Bipolar disorder - Heritability
• Bipolar disorder - Recent genetic research
• Bipolar disorder - Medical imaging
• Bipolar disorder - Personality types
• Bipolar disorder - Research into new treatments
• Bipolar disorder - Bipolar disorder and creativity
• Bipolar disorder - Sources

Read more here: » Bipolar disorder: Encyclopedia - Bipolar disorder

Attempting to understand time has long been a prime occupation for philosophers, scientists and artists. There are widely divergent views about its meaning, hence it is difficult to provide an uncontroversial and clear definition of time. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as "the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future, regarded as a whole". Another standard dictionary definition is "a non-spatial linear continuum wherein events occur in an apparently irreversible order." This article looks at some of the main philosophi ...

Including:

• Time - Philosophy of time
• Time - Contemporary theses in the philosophy of time
• Time - Time in physics
• Time - Measurement
• Time - Present day standards
• Time - Chronology
• Time - Psychology
• Time - Use of time
• Time - General units of time
• Time - Special units of time
• Time - Time measurement and horology
• Time - Theory and study of time

Read more here: » Time: Encyclopedia - Time

In Hinduism and its spiritual systems of yoga and in some related eastern cultures, as well as in some segments of the New Age movement -- and to some degree the distinctly different New Thought movement -- a chakra is thought to be an energy node in the human body. The word comes from the Sanskrit cakra चक्र meaning "wheel, circle", and sometimes also referring to the "wheel of life". The pronunciation of this word can be approximated ...

Including:

• Chakra - Introduction
• Chakra - The Seven Basic Chakras
• Chakra - Origins and Development
• Chakra - Chakras and the endocrine system
• Chakra - Various models
• Chakra - The Tantric Chakras
• Chakra - Hesychastic centres of prayer
• Chakra - Scientific basis
• Chakra - References in Fiction
• Chakra - Reference Material and Books

Read more here: » Chakra: Encyclopedia - Chakra

Humans or human beings define themselves in biological, social, and spiritual terms. Biologically, humans are classified as the mammalian species Homo sapiens (Latin for "wise man" or "thinking man"): a bipedal primate of the superfamily Hominoidea, together with the other apes: chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons. Humans have an erect body carriage that frees their upper limbs for manipulating objects and a highly developed brain capable of abstract reasoning, speech, language, and ...

Including:

• Human - Terminology
• Human - Biology
• Human - Anatomy and physiology
• Human - Life cycle
• Human - Genetics
• Human - Race and ethnicity
• Human - Habitat
• Human - Population
• Human - Human evolution
• Human - Intelligence
• Human - Culture
• Human - Origins
• Human - Language
• Human - Music
• Human - Emotion and sexuality
• Human - Body image
• Human - Trade and economics
• Human - Artifacts technology and science
• Human - Mind
• Human - Psychology and human ethology
• Human - Philosophy
• Human - Motivation
• Human - Self-reflection and humanism
• Human - Spirit

Read more here: » Human: Encyclopedia - Human

Acceptance Anger Anticipation Boredom Disgust Envy Fear Guilt Hate Hope Joy Jealousy Love Remorse Sadness Sorrow Surprise Happiness, pleasure or joy is an emotional or affective state in which we feel good or happy. Overlapping states or experiences include joy, exultation, delight, bliss, and love. Antonyms include suffering, sadness, grief, and pain. The term pleasure is sometimes used to ...

Including:

• Happiness - Terminology
• Happiness - Psychological views
• Happiness - Positive psychology
• Happiness - Mechanistic view
• Happiness - Biological basis
• Happiness - Difficulties in defining internal experiences
• Happiness - In non-human animals
• Happiness - In humans
• Happiness - In Artificial intelligence
• Happiness - Positive effect study
• Happiness - Behaviors and emotions associated with happiness

Read more here: » Happiness: Encyclopedia - Happiness

Person, in the classic sense, refers to a living human being. However, in philosophy, there has been debate over the precise meaning and correct usage of the term, whether the classical definition should be expanded or in some cases reduced, and which constituent elements or criteria must exist to establish personhood. Person - Are all persons human?. Firstly, there is the simple and traditional view that the common usage is the correct one: that "person" does indeed mean "human". However, this runs ...

Including:

• Person - Are all persons human?
• Person - Are all humans persons?
• Person - Possible criteria for personhood
• Person - Personhood theory
• Person - Implications of the personhood debate
• Person - Individual rights and responsibility
• Person - Corporations as persons

Read more here: » Person: Encyclopedia - Person

The English suffix -ology or -logy denotes a field of study or academic discipline, and -ologist describes a person who studies that field. -logy - Etymology. The word ology is a back-formation from the names of these disciplines. "-logy" basically means "the study of ____". Such words are formed from Greek or Latin roots with the terminal -logy derived from the Greek suffix -λογια (-logia), speaking, from λεγειν (legein), ...

Including:

• -logy - Etymology
• -logy - Other words ending in ology
• -logy - Usage
• -logy - List of -ologies
• -logy - A
• -logy - B
• -logy - C
• -logy - D
• -logy - E
• -logy - F
• -logy - G
• -logy - H
• -logy - I
• -logy - J
• -logy - K
• -logy - L
• -logy - M
• -logy - N
• -logy - O
• -logy - P
• -logy - R
• -logy - S
• -logy - T
• -logy - U
• -logy - V
• -logy - X
• -logy - Z
• -logy - Ologies that are not fields of study

Read more here: » -logy: Encyclopedia - -logy