The Dreamachine (or Dream Machine) was invented by Beat generation members Brion Gysin and Ian Sommerville, in 1959.
In its original form, the Dreamachine is made from a cylinder with slits cut in the sides. The cylinder is placed on a record turntable and rotated at 78 RPM or 45 RPM. A light bulb is suspended in the center of the cylinder and the rotation speed allows the light to come out from the holes at a constant frequency, situated between 8 and 13 pulses per second. This frequency range corresponds to alpha waves, electrical oscillations normally present in the human brain while relaxing.
The Dreamachine is “viewed” with the eyes closed: the pulsating light stimulates the optical nerve and alters the brain’s electrical oscillations. The “viewer” experiences increasingly bright, complex patterns of color behind their closed eyelids. The patterns become shapes and symbols, swirling around, until the “viewer” feels surrounded by colors. It is claimed that viewing a Dreamachine allows one to enter a hypnagogic state. [citation needed] This experience may sometimes be quite intense, but to escape from it, one needs only to open one’s eyes.
It should be noted that the Dreamachine may be dangerous for people with photosensitive epilepsy or other nervous disorders. It is thought that one out of 10,000 adults will experience a seizure while viewing the device; about twice as many children will have a similar ill effect.[citation needed] Also, others report that viewing a Dreamachine can become addictive, and moderation is encouraged when using the device. [citation needed]
Brion Gysin’s Dreamachine is the subject of the upcoming documentary film entitled “FLicKeR” by Nik Sheehan.
Traduction partielle:
La Dreamachine (ou machine à rêver) a été inventé par Brion Gysin et Ian Sommerville dans les premiers années soixante.
La Dreamachine est un simple cylindre avec des trous sur les côtés qu’on fait tourner sur un tourne-disques à 45 ou 78 tours/minute. Une lumière est placée à l’intérieur du cylindre, et la vitesse de rotation laisse passer la lumière à une fréquence de clignotement située entre 7 et 13 Hertz. Cette fourchette de fréquences (appelé ‘bande Alpha’) correspond à celle présente dans le cerveau quand ce dernier se trouve en état de rêve.
On regarde la Dreamachine avec les yeux fermés – le clignotement stimule le nerf optique qui à son tour transmet ces pulsations au cerveau: on rentre ainsi dans un état proche à celui du rêve.
Attention: l’emploi de la Dreamachine peut être dangereux pour les personnes souffrant d’épilepsie.
http://www.noah.org/science/dreamachine/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamachine
http://www.inter-zone.org/dmplanfr.html
Other links:
http://www.dailymotion.com/vincent_lena/video/xq0fb_3-salvia-experience-2006-teaser3-ld
http://www.dailymotion.com/vincent_lena/video/xpvts_4-salvia-experience-2006-teaser4
http://www.dailymotion.com/vincent_lena/video/xptl6_5-salvia-experience-2006-teaser5
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