XYZ:
> The mind of many animals doesn't need to dream to be a mind, therefore
> dreaming isn't necessary per se for a mind.
Name one such animal. As far as I know, no animal with a mind can
function without dreaming. Dolphins' brains dream in shifts, each time
half a brain dreaming and the other half awake, so the dolphin wouldn't
sink and suffocate.
Even birds' brains have to dream. Their REM periods are very brief,
since during dreaming the whole body is relaxed and the grip of the
branch is loosed.
As for humans, I happen to be familiar with that experiment Stephen
described. After several nights the subjects moved straight to REM
sleep, without any deep sleep period normally prior to it. The
experiment couldn't go on, since the subjects were wakened right after
they fell asleep. If you prevent someone of sleeping, you'd gradually
need a stronger mean to wake him up. Eventually, he'll remain asleep, no
matter how hard you shake him, whip him, shock him, drug him, or use any
other waker. (Don't look at me that way! I haven't conducted those
experiments myself! I'm not a sadist!)
As for those subjects, their associative capability was totally out.
They're some more interesting brain experiments if you're interested.
Lior.