The Science Behind Dreaming



What is a Dream? 

The images and stories that we involuntarily see when we sleep are dreams. They can be vivid or vague, and can leave you feeling confused, happy, sad, or even scared. Experts in the field believe that on average we dream at least four to six times a night. 


Why do we Dream? 

Dreams can be interesting, informative, romantic, scary or simply bizarre. Everyone dreams, even if they don’t remember it. From ancient times, civilizations have tried to understand dreams. Greeks and Romans believed that dreams had some prophetic powers. The interpretation of dreams is not something new but it wasn’t until the end of the nineteenth century that more contemporary dream theories were developed. One theory is that we dream of the things we desire in life and deal with our unresolved issues. Many of these revolve around the psychological importance of dreams.


Remembering Dreams: 

REM (rapid eye movement) is a deep and powerful form of sleep. When we dream in this state, the dreams feel vivid and therefore, memorable. Early in the night, the REM is low, so the dreams at that time last only for a few minutes but as the REM increases, so does the length and clarity of dreams. 


Lucid Dreams: 

You’ve probably experienced dreams in which you know that you are dreaming. These kinds of dreams are known as lucid dreams, and you experience them when there is a boost of activity in the parts of the brain that are usually resting during sleep. These dreams fall between awake and REM sleep. Lucid dreamers can influence their dreams, and even make changes in the story of the dream.


Nightmares: 

The medical term for nightmare disorder is parasomnia. It can be caused by stress/anxiety, trauma, sleep deprivation, or medications. When you have a certain nightmare over and over again, your subconscious may be trying to let you know something. It can be very helpful in these situations to discuss these dreams with a therapist.


Why don’t you remember dreams for a long time? 

There are a few possible reasons for not remembering dreams. First, you aren’t getting peaceful, REM sleep. Medications like antidepressants, and mind altering substances like alcohol may suppress REM sleep. Second, transition between REM and other sleep states before regaining consciousness can also lead you to forget your dream. 


The electrical and chemical signals that help in the creation of dreams disappear when we wake up. But it is possible for elements of the dream to be recalled later in the day, or may be triggered by something you see that activates the same areas of the brain as the dream at night. 


The Takeaway: 

The science of dreaming is very vast and full of unknowns. A lot of people get concerned because of recurring dreams. Recurring dreams may occur because of some traumatic experience or due to stress. Talking to a professional can help, and with WoW Health, you can talk to a therapist of your choice from the comfort of your home via our Tele-medicine platform. 


 

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