If every time I went to bed really exhausted, guaranteed to fall asleep within minutes, I listened to the same three or four songs on my stereo, would I then be able to make myself fall asleep instantly whenever I listened to those same songs at other periods?

Obviously, I'd have to repeat the first half many times but it would be a cure for those nights where you have trouble falling asleep or if you have insomnia.

It seems like it could work but I don't know how much an average man's mind differs from an average dog's.

I bet it would have an influence, but it probably wouldn't be as drastic as a dog's response. It's whenever your brain is operating in a lower state of operation that I think it would make the biggest difference.

For example, I've heard that if you're one of those people who turns off the alarm clock without even realizing it and going back to sleep, training yourself by spending a few minutes a day practicing your wake up routine in the middle of the afternoon leads you to do that same routine in the morning, since you're less capable of thought and your brain just goes with what's habit. Never seen any studies on it, though.

Whenever I hear an alarm clock (like the "buzz. buzz. buzz." kind), I get a feeling of dread like I'm waking up in the morning. This happens a lot if there's an alarm in a movie or on a commercial. I get really crabby and a little nervous. It's weird. Guess I'm part dog.

my computer just went BONG and i dashed over to check my email

All i know is that the only way i can get to sleep is watching Seinfeld.

I need to be watching something, but at the same time, it has to be something that i know most of the dialogue of. So The (british) Office would also do, or whatever else i'm in to.

Last time i tried to go to sleep without watching Seinfeld was a complete disaster, i just lay in bed for 3 or 4 hours HOPING that something sleepy would happen.

Drunkeness usually overides most of the above though, but not always.

I used to respond to high-pitched melodies in songs... thinking it was my cellphone.

So I set my cell to "vibrate".

But my ears got so accustomed to that low frequency buzz noise it makes, that I would often think my cell was ringing if a large truck went by and shook everything.

I sort of do this as well, but usually try to turn on documentary type shows on the History Channel or Discovery (that isn't totally engrossing). I find that if I don't have something like that on my mind wanders too much and prevents me from falling asleep.

hmm...

this is what i get to sleep to, every ngiht. I try to mix it up a little:

Seinfeld

The Office

Brian Wilson Smile dvd

Bob Dylan no direction Home

that's, about, it.

Same here. I've had Secretary, The Royal Tenenbaums and Lost in Translation on steady night time rotation all year.

I guess so.


When I see pussy, I salivate.

Twenty-something years ago, when I was susceptible to anxiety attacks and wanted to distract my brain from thinking, I heard that people often used talk radio played low. Instead, I went with comedy albums.

Still do it to this day--standup comedy or ambient music. George Carlin and Brian Eno are probably neck and neck in my most-listened-to artists ever.

That's interesting. I've never heard that, but I've listened to talk radio at night to go to sleep for probably 10-15 years now. I love me some Dr. Dean Edell.

Pavlovian learning (classical conditioning) works for all types of animals- (including humans) not just dogs. Learning is learning. What you are talking about could work- as long as during the 'learning stage' you did indeed fall asleep rather quickly-- but I wonder if the music itself might have a reverse effect (i.e. work to keep you up). People who have trouble sleeping are often told never to just lay in bed.. if you are having trouble sleeping get out of bed and do not go back until you feel you can sleep. The reason is similar to your experiment - i.e. the cues (bed, pillow, bedroom) should only be associated with sleeping, so that when you do go to bed, you fall asleep.