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Posted by Brian on February 11, 1998 at 04:20:09:In Reply to: Rocking to get to sleep posted by Chuck on February 10, 1998 at 13:35:17:
Hi Chuck,
Rythmic stimuli, tend to alter consciousness. The most obvious example is music, but other stimuli can have the same effect. Some are more affected by this than others, but meditators use mantras and chants (I envision Jews praying at the Wailing Wall), hypnotists swing pendula, and insomniacs count sheep, all to alter consciousness.
Rythmic stimuli resonate with our own biorythms (heartbeat, tidal breathing, etc.), and remind us of our prenatal life in which we were rocked by the movements of our mothers' activities, and surrounded by the rythmic stimuli of her physical processes. As this, for most of us, was a time of supreme safety and security, it is not suprising that stimuli in the present which remind us, consciously or unconsciously, of that time of comfort and security will have a relaxing effect, and be conducive to sleep.
Hope this helps,
Brian
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