Making the Connection

amnesia

The loss of memory which can be temporary or long term and usually brought on by shock, an injury, or psychological disturbance. Originally from the Greek word amnestos, literally meaning not remembered and from a later alteration of the word: amnesia: forgetfulness.

banal

Boring, very ordinary and commonplace. From the French word ban, originally used in the context of a mandatory military service for all or common to all.

clairvoyance

The ability to see things beyond the normal range of the five human senses. From the French word clairvoyant, meaning clear-sighted and voyant, the present participle of voir to see.

consciousness

Someone's mind, thoughts or feelings, or can be referring to the part of the mind which is aware of same. The state of being aware of what is going on around you, either individually or the shared feelings of group awareness, feelings or thoughts.

ecstatic

Intense emotion of pleasure, happiness, joy or elation.

electroencephalographic dream research

Researching dreams using a electroencephalograph to aid the researcher in the brain activity of the one being studied.

electroencephalograph

A device or machine that through the use of electrodes placed on a person's scalp, monitors the electrical activity in various parts of the brain. These are recorded and used as a diagnostic tool in tracing a variety of anything from brain disorders, tumors or other irregularities to dream research.

electrodes

Two conductors through which electricity flows in batteries or other electrical equipment.

electromagnetic

Of or pertaining to the characteristics of an electromagnet, which is a device having a steel or iron core and is magnetized by an electric current that flows through a surrounding coil..

encode

To convert a message from plain text into a code. In computer language, to convert from analog to digital form, and in genetics to convert appropriate genetic data.

false memory

Refers to situations where some therapies and hypnosis may actually be planting memories through certain suggestions or leading questions and comments; thereby creating memories that the patient or client believes to be true, but in reality they are not.

Gestalt therapy

A type of psychotherapy that puts a great deal of emphasis on a person's feelings as revealing desired or undesired personality traits and how they came to be, by examining unresolved issues from the past.

hallucination

An experience of something or someone being present when it is not, or when one imagines hearing, seeing or sensing an occurrence vividly, but it is not real.

hypnagogic

Relating to or being in the state between wakefulness and sleep where one is drowsy. From the French hypnagogique meaning literally leading to sleep.

hypnopompic

Typical of or involving the state between sleeping and waking. Coined from hypno and Greek pompe, meaning a sending away.

hypnosis

The process of putting or being in a sleeplike state, although the person is not sleeping. It can be induced by suggestions or methods of a hypnotist.

hypothesis

An explanation or assumption for a phenomenon that sets the basis for additional investigation. From the Greek hupothesis meaning foundation or base.

ions

An atom or group of atoms that are electrically charged through the process of gaining or losing one or more electrons. From the Greek ion meaning moving thing; and from the present participle of ienai meaning to go —from the movement

of any ion toward the electrode of the opposite charge.

narcolepsy

A condition where a person uncontrollably falls asleep at odd times during daily activities and/or for long extended periods of time. Hallucinations and even paralysis might also accompany this condition. Coined from narco and lepsy, from the model of epilepsy.

neuron

The basic functional unit of the nervous system: a cell body that consists of an axon and dendrites and transmit nerve impulses. A neuron is also called a nerve cell. Via German from Greek neuron, meaning sinew, cord, nerve.

parapsychology

The study or exploration of mental phenomena that does not have a scientific explanation in the known psychological principles.

pharmacologist

The study of or science of drugs in all their aspects, including sources, chemistry, production, their use in treating ailments and disease, as well as any known side effects.

physiology

The study of the functioning and internal workings of living things, such as metabolism, respiration, reproduction and the like. From the Latin word physiologia and the Greek phusiologia, and phusis meaning nature.

psi

The factor or factors responsible for parapsychological phenomena. Derived from the Greek letter psi which is used to denote the unknown factor in an equation.

psyche

The soul or human spirit or can refer to the mental characteristics of a person or group or nation. Via Latin from Greek psukhe meaning breath, soul, mind and from psukhein: to breathe.

psychiatrist

A doctor who is trained to treat people with psychiatric disorders.

psychoanalysis

The system of analysis regarding the relationship of conscious and unconscious psychological aspects and their treatment in mental or psycho neurosis.