Dreams are captivating—it feels as though we’re watching a live-action movie starring ourselves (and yet not quite our true selves), going through several chaotic storylines in one night—then, once we wake up, we can barely recall them.
People have long wondered how and why we dream; since the 1950s, psychologists have developed theories to address dreams’ potential causes and meaning. Sigmund Freud suggested that dreams stem from one’s repressed memories or represent the fulfillment of a person’s unconscious desires; however, the subject of the “unconscious” has been a complex study, leaving an element of mystery to dream interpretation.
Answering “why” remains complicated, but as technology has developed, we have a greater understanding of the different sleep stages and the process of dreaming. Dreams usually take place during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep, although they can occur at any point. In this stage, most of the body is temporarily paralyzed while a person’s eyes continue to move, and brain wave activity is similar to when the brain is awake. During REM, known as “paradoxical sleep,” the suppression or promotion of different neurotransmitters may play a role in this brain activity, affecting our perception of dreams.
As competing theories have evolved, the general consensus is that dreams serve the purpose of developing memories and preparing us for real-life scenarios. Furthermore, I personally view the remaining mysteries to enhance its allure.
Sources:
https://clevelandclinic.org/why-do-we-dream/
Photo Credit: mcgovern.mit.edu