Why do we Dream?

Blog Post by TellMeMyDream.com

A dream is a pattern of sensory information that occurs when the brain is at rest during sleep. It is generally believed that dreams occur during REM sleep in which the brain appears to be active, but the individual is actually asleep or in a state of paralysis. Researchers used to think that people dream during REM sleep, but now most experts agree that dreams can occur any time during the sleep cycle.

Another theory of the role of dreams is that they help to analyze and consolidate memories by processing recent experiences that can be transformed into long-term storage. McNamara says dreams can also help store memories of emotional experiences and regulate our moods the next day. One of the most common theories about the purpose of dreaming is that it helps to store important memories - things that you have learned - and remove unimportant memories such as complicated thoughts and feelings.

Scientists have confirmed that most dreams occur in the REM stage of sleep. Dreams occur during sleep with rapid eye movements (REM), when brain activity is high and resembles wakefulness. People with REM Behavioral Disorder (RBD) move during REM sleep, which is a response to their dreams.

Sleep and dreams are particularly prone to disturbances and mental and physical health problems. Disturbing dreams can cause a person to avoid sleep or lead to sleep deprivation. Dream content, dreams and their impact on sleep can vary from person to person.

For a simpler explanation of the meaning and purpose of dreams, it is useful to understand the basic elements of dreams and the possible effects of nightmares, as well as to take steps to sleep better and have sweeter dreams.

Some experts believe that dreams are a way to process events and emotions that we experience during the day. Dreams arise in response to physiological activity in the brain, such as neurotransmitters that replenish themselves during sleep.

It has been suggested that dreams have no particular purpose, that they are merely a by-product of the biochemical processes that take place in the brain during sleep. This theory is the least fascinating, because if dreams do not fulfill any function, they are pointless by-products of brain fire while we are asleep.

We know that the back of our brain becomes active during REM sleep, where most dreams take place. The brain turns up at night, and dreams are just random, meaningless shots of the brain that we don't do when we're awake.

To be honest, the answer is that we do not know what the function or functions of dreaming are. This ignorance is not surprising as there are many theories and we still do not understand the purpose of sleep, but we do know that REM sleep function (rapid eye movement) is the place where most dreams take place.

There are numerous theories that dreaming is an accidental product of REM sleep physiology and serves no natural purpose. Some scientists argue that the somewhat elusive phenomenon of dreaming has a function. They believe that sleep, and REM sleep in particular, has a biological function, but that this function is not yet established and that the phenomenon is merely an epiphenomenon of mental activity that occurs during REM sleep.

Dreaming appears to happen more often than other parts of sleep, occurs more often than we perceive, and we tend to remember our dreams when we awaken in the midst of these dreams. Dreaming is part of healthy sleep and is considered normal despite the negative effects of sleep.

Other theories claim that dreams serve as virtual simulations of waking life. For example, the threat simulation theory of dreaming states that our dream consciousness is an ancient biological defence mechanism, a natural consequence of our evolution. Another evolutionary health benefit of dreaming is that our brains prepare us for potentially dangerous events.

These experiments support the widely held theory that we dream because the brain's memory system is more active during sleep. Antidepressants can reduce REM sleep and dreaming, and in some cases improve memory.

We suggest that dreams and sleep exist at least partially to prevent other senses from taking over the brain's visual cortex, and that this part of the brain remains unused.

Dreams are the result of the organization, consolidation and transmission of information that our brains gain during sleep. REM sleep does not let our brain decide what to do with the information, or whether to ignore it or remember it, but is a mechanism that helps us make decisions.

While experts in neuroscience and psychology continue to conduct experiments to find out what happens during sleep in the brain, the ongoing research makes it impossible to prove any theory of why we dream. Some scientists claim that dreaming is a direct function or consequence of other biological processes that occur during sleep and many who deal with sleep and dreaming believe that dreaming serves a primary purpose. Whether biological, cognitive or psychological, it is likely to perform an important function in each of these areas.

Whether or not you remember your dreams does not depend on how well you sleep. Brain activity studies suggest that most people over the age of 10 dream four to six times a night, and some even remember dreams.