#publisher Medical News Today - Health News Headlines RSS Feed Medical News Today - Health News Headlines JSON Feed [p?c1=2&c2=19983957&cv=2.0&cj=1] [tr?id=1039134266174910&ev=PageView&noscript=1] [tr?id=1039134266174910&ev=PageView&noscript=1] For full functionality, it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Welcome to Medical News Today Healthline Media, Inc. would like to process and share personal data (e.g., mobile ad id) and data about your use of our site (e.g., content interests) with our third party partners (see a current list) using cookies and similar automatic collection tools in order to a) personalize content and/or offers on our site or other sites, b) communicate with you upon request, and/or c) for additional reasons upon notice and, when applicable, with your consent. Healthline Media, Inc. is based in and operates this site from the United States. Any data you provide will be primarily stored and processed in the United States, pursuant to the laws of the United States, which may provide lesser privacy protections than European Economic Area countries. By clicking "accept" below, you acknowledge and grant your consent for these activities unless and until you withdraw your consent using our rights request form. Learn more in our Privacy Policy. * + Top categories o Blood / Hematology o Bones / Orthopedics o Breast Cancer o Colorectal Cancer o Depression o GastroIntestinal o Hypertension o Lymphoma o Men's Health o Neurology / Neuroscience o Nutrition / Diet o Pain / Anesthetics o Prostate / Prostate Cancer o Psoriasis o Respiratory o Sexual Health / STDs o Stroke o Tuberculosis o Urology / Nephrology o Women's Health + All categories o A - B o C - D o E - G o H - L o M - O o P - R o S - Z o All Topics + Your MNT Not a member yet? Get the most out of Medical News Today. Subscribe to our Newsletter to recieve: o Professionally-verified articles o Daily or weekly updates o Content custom-tailored to your needs (BUTTON) Create an account More * Sign up for our newsletter * [logo-menu-cta-2017.png] Discover in-depth, condition specific articles written by our in-house team. Newsletter MNT home MNT - Hourly Medical News Since 2003 ____________________ (BUTTON) Search (BUTTON) Go * Log in * + Top categories o Blood / Hematology o Bones / Orthopedics o Breast Cancer o Colorectal Cancer o Depression o GastroIntestinal o Hypertension o Lymphoma o Men's Health o Neurology / Neuroscience o Nutrition / Diet o Pain / Anesthetics o Prostate / Prostate Cancer o Psoriasis o Respiratory o Sexual Health / STDs o Stroke o Tuberculosis o Urology / Nephrology o Women's Health + All categories o A - B o C - D o E - G o H - L o M - O o P - R o S - Z o All Topics + Your MNT Not a member yet? Get the most out of Medical News Today. Subscribe to our Newsletter to recieve: o Professionally-verified articles o Daily or weekly updates o Content custom-tailored to your needs (BUTTON) Create an account More * Sign up for our newsletter * [logo-menu-cta-2017.png] Discover in-depth, condition specific articles written by our in-house team. Newsletter MNT home MNT - Hourly Medical News Since 2003 ____________________ (BUTTON) Search (BUTTON) Go * Login (BUTTON) Loading... [] Please accept our privacy terms We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience, personalize content and offers, show targeted ads, analyze traffic, and better understand you. We may share your information with third-party partners for marketing purposes. To learn more and make choices about data use, visit our Advertising Policy and Privacy Policy. By clicking "Accept and Continue" below, (1) you consent to these activities unless and until you withdraw your consent using our rights request form, and (2) you consent to allow your data to be transferred, processed, and stored in the United States. (BUTTON) ACCEPT AND CONTINUE TO SITE (BUTTON) Deny permission (BUTTON) Scroll to Accept (BUTTON) Sign in Log in with your Medical News Today account to create or edit your custom homepage, catch-up on your opinions notifications and set your newsletter preferences. (BUTTON) Sign in Register for a free account Sign up for a free Medical News Today account to customize your medical and health news experiences. (BUTTON) Register take the tour __________________________________________________________________ Thank you for supporting Medical News Today Dreams: Why do we dream? Last updated Thu 28 June 2018 Last updated Thu 28 Jun 2018 By Hannah Nichols Reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, CRNP Table of contents 1. Causes 2. What are dreams? 3. Interpretations 4. Forgetting dreams 5. Who dreams? 6. Vision and hearing loss Dreams are stories and images that our minds create while we sleep. They can be entertaining, fun, romantic, disturbing, frightening, and sometimes bizarre. They are an enduring source of mystery for scientists and psychological doctors. Why do dreams occur? What causes them? Can we control them? What do they mean? This article will explore the current theories, causes, and applications of dreaming. Fast facts on dreams * We may not remember dreaming, but everyone is thought to dream between 3 and 6 times per night * It is thought that each dream lasts between 5 to 20 minutes. * Around 95 percent of dreams are forgotten by the time a person gets out of bed. * Dreaming can help you learn and develop long-term memories. * Blind people dream more with other sensory components compared with sighted people. Causes Everyone probably dreams Dreams: Do they represent our unconsious desires? There are several theories about why we dream. Are dreams merely part of the sleep cycle, or do they serve some other purpose? Possible explanations include: * representing unconscious desires and wishes * interpreting random signals from the brain and body during sleep * consolidating and processing information gathered during the day * working as a form of psychotherapy From evidence and new research methodologies, researchers have speculated that dreaming serves the following functions: * offline memory reprocessing, in which the brain consolidates learning and memory tasks and supports and records waking consciousness * preparing for possible future threats * cognitive simulation of real life experiences, as dreaming is a subsystem of the waking default network, the part of the mind active during daydreaming * helping develop cognitive capabilities * reflecting unconscious mental function in a psychoanalytic way * a unique state of consciousness that incorporates experience of the present, processing of the past, and preparation for the future * a psychological space where overwhelming, contradictory, or highly complex notions can be brought together by the dreaming ego, notions that would be unsettling while awake, serving the need for psychological balance and equilibrium Much that remains unknown about dreams. They are by nature difficult to study in a laboratory, but technology and new research techniques may help improve our understanding of dreams. Phases of sleep Dreams most likely happen Dreams most likely happen during REM sleep. There are five phases of sleep in a sleep cycle: Stage 1: Light sleep, slow eye movement, and reduced muscle activity. This stage forms 4 to 5 percent of total sleep. Stage 2: Eye movement stops and brain waves become slower, with occasional bursts of rapid waves called sleep spindles. This stage forms 45 to 55 percent of total sleep. Stage 3: Extremely slow brain waves called delta waves begin to appear, interspersed with smaller, faster waves. This accounts for 4 to 6 percent of total sleep. Stage 4: The brain produces delta waves almost exclusively. It is difficult to wake someone during stages 3 and 4, which together are called "deep sleep." There is no eye movement or muscle activity. People awakened while in deep sleep do not adjust immediately and often feel disoriented for several minutes after waking up. This forms 12 to 15 percent of total sleep. Stage 5: This stage is known as rapid eye movement (REM). Breathing becomes more rapid, irregular, and shallow, eyes jerk rapidly in various directions, and limb muscles become temporarily paralyzed. Heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, and males develop penile erections. When people awaken during REM sleep, they often describe bizarre and illogical tales. These are dreams. This stage accounts for 20 to 25 percent of total sleep time. Neuroscience offers explanations linked to the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep as a likely candidate for the cause of dreaming. Thank you for supporting Medical News Today What are dreams? Dreams are a universal human experience that can be described as a state of consciousness characterized by sensory, cognitive and emotional occurrences during sleep. The dreamer has reduced control over the content, visual images and activation of the memory. There is no cognitive state that has been as extensively studied and yet as frequently misunderstood as dreaming. There are significant differences between the neuroscientific and psychoanalytic approaches to dream analysis. Neuroscientists are interested in the structures involved in dream production, dream organization, and narratability. However, psychoanalysis concentrates on the meaning of dreams and placing them in the context of relationships in the history of the dreamer. Reports of dreams tend to be full of emotional and vivid experiences that contain themes, concerns, dream figures, and objects that correspond closely to waking life. These elements create a novel "reality" out of seemingly nothing, producing an experience with a lifelike timeframe and connections. Nightmares Nightmares are distressing dreams that cause the dreamer to feel a number of disturbing emotions. Common reactions to a nightmare include fear and anxiety. They can occur in both adults and children, and causes include: * stress * fear * trauma * emotional difficulties * illness * use of certain medications or drugs Dreams and nightmares: What are they? Dreams and nightmares: What are they? FInd out more about some of the theories of dreaming and what happens in nightmares. Read now Lucid dreams Lucid dreaming is the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming. They may have some control over their dream. This measure of control can vary between lucid dreams. They often occur in the middle of a regular dream when the sleeping person realizes suddenly that they are dreaming. Some people experience lucid dreaming at random, while others have reported being able to increase their capacity to control their dreams. Interpretations What goes through our minds just before we fall asleep could affect the content of our dreams. For example, during exam time, students may dream about course content. People in a relationship may dream of their partner. Web developers may see programming code. These circumstantial observations suggest that elements from the everyday re-emerge in dream-like imagery during the transition from wakefulness to sleep. Characters Studies have examined the "characters" that appear in dream reports and how they the dreamer identifies them. A study of 320 adult dream reports found: * Forty-eight percent of characters represented a named person known to the dreamer. * Thirty-five percent of characters were identified by their social role (for example, policeman) or relationship to dreamer (such as a friend). * Sixteen percent were not recognized Among named characters: * Thirty-two percent were identified by appearance * Twenty-one percent were identified by behavior * Forty-five percent were identified by face * Forty-four percent were identified by "just knowing" Elements of bizarreness were reported in 14 percent of named and generic characters. Another study investigated the relationship between dream emotion and dream character identification. Affection and joy were commonly associated with known characters and were used to identify them even when these emotional attributes were inconsistent with those of the waking state. The findings suggest that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, associated with short-term memory, is less active in the dreaming brain than during waking life, while the paleocortical and subcortical limbic areas are more active. Memories The concept of 'repression' dates back to Freud. Freud maintained that undesirable memories could become suppressed in the mind. Dreams ease repression by allowing these memories to be reinstated. A study showed that sleep does not help people forget unwanted memories. Instead, REM sleep might even counteract the voluntary suppression of memories, making them more accessible for retrieval. Two types of temporal effects characterize the incorporation of memories into dreams: * the day-residue effect, involving immediate incorporations of events from the preceding day * the dream-lag effect, involving incorporations delayed by about a week The findings of one study suggest that: * processing memories into dream incorporation takes a cycle of around 7 days * these processes help further the functions of socio-emotional adaptation and memory consolidation Dream lag Dream-lag is when the images, experiences, or people that emerge in dreams are images, experiences, or people you have seen recently, perhaps the previous day or a week before. The idea is that certain types of experiences take a week to become encoded into long-term memory, and some of the images from the consolidation process will appear in a dream. Events experienced while awake are said to feature in 1 to 2 percent of dream reports, although 65 percent of dream reports reflect aspects of recent waking life experiences. The dream-lag effect has been reported in dreams that occur at the REM stage but not those that occur at stage 2. Memory types and dreaming Two types of memory can form the basis of a dream. These are: * autobiographical memories, or long-lasting memories about the self * episodic memories, which are memories about specific episodes or events A study exploring different types of memory within dream content among 32 participants found the following: * One dream (0.5 percent) contained an episodic memory. * Most dreams in the study (80 percent) contained low to moderate incorporations of autobiographical memory features. Researchers suggest that memories of personal experiences are experienced fragmentarily and selectively during dreaming. The purpose may be to integrate these memories into the long-lasting autobiographical memory. A hypothesis stating that dreams reflect waking-life experiences is supported by studies investigating the dreams of psychiatric patients and patients with sleep disorders. In short, their daytime symptoms and problems are reflected in their dreams. In 1900, Freud described a category of dreams known as "biographical dreams." These reflect the historical experience of being an infant without the typical defensive function. Many authors agree that some traumatic dreams perform a function of recovery. One paper hypothesizes that the main aspect of traumatic dreams is to communicate an experience that the dreamer has in the dream but does not understand. This can help an individual reconstruct and come to terms with past trauma. Themes The themes of dreams can be linked to the suppression of unwanted thoughts and, as a result, an increased occurrence of that suppressed thought in dreams. Fifteen good sleepers were asked to suppress an unwanted thought 5 minutes prior to sleep. The results demonstrate that there were increased dreams about the unwanted thought and a tendency to have more distressing dreams. They also imply that thought suppression may lead to significantly increased mental disorder symptoms. Research has indicated that external stimuli presented during sleep can affect the emotional content of dreams. For example, the positively-toned stimulus of roses in one study yielded more positively themed dreams, whereas the negative stimulus of rotten eggs was followed by more negatively themed dreams. Typical dreams are defined as dreams similar to those reported by a high percentage of dreamers. Up to now, the frequencies of typical dream themes have been studied with questionnaires. These have indicated that a rank order of 55 typical dream themes has been stable over different sample populations. Some themes Some themes are familiar to many people, such as flying, falling, and arriving late. The 55 themes identified are: * school, teachers, and studying * being chased or pursued * sexual experiences * falling * arriving too late * a living person being dead * a person now dead being alive * flying or soaring through the air * failing an examination * being on the verge of falling * being frozen with fright * being physically attacked * being nude * eating delicious food * swimming * being locked up * insects or spiders * being killed * losing teeth * being tied up, restrained, or unable to move * being inappropriately dressed * being a child again * trying to complete a task successfully * being unable to find toilet, or embarrassment about losing one * discovering a new room at home * having superior knowledge or mental ability * losing control of a vehicle * fire * wild, violent beasts * seeing a face very close to you * snakes * having magical powers * vividly sensing, but not necessarily seeing or hearing, a presence in the room * finding money * floods or tidal waves * killing someone * seeing yourself as dead * being half-awake and paralyzed in bed * people behaving in a menacing way * seeing yourself in a mirror * being a member of the opposite sex * being smothered, unable to breathe * encountering God in some form * seeing a flying object crash * earthquakes * seeing an angel * part animal, part human creatures * tornadoes or strong winds * being at the movie * seeing extra-terrestrials * traveling to another planet * being an animal * seeing a UFO * someone having an abortion * being an object Some dream themes appear to change over time. For example, from 1956 to 2000, there was an increase in the percentage of people who reported flying in dreams. This could reflect the increase in air travel. What do they mean? Relationships: Some have hypothesized that one cluster of typical dreams, including being an object in danger, falling, or being chased, is related to interpersonal conflicts. Sexual concepts: Another cluster that includes flying, sexual experiences, finding money, and eating delicious food is associated with libidinal and sexual motivations. Fear of embarrassment: A third group, containing dreams that involve being nude, failing an examination, arriving too late, losing teeth, and being inappropriately dressed, is associated with social concerns and a fear of embarrassment. Brain activity and dream types In neuroimaging studies of brain activity during REM sleep, scientists found that the distribution of brain activity might also be linked to specific dream features. Several bizarre features of normal dreams have similarities with well-known neuropsychological syndromes that occur after brain damage, such as delusional misidentifications for faces and places. Dreams and the senses Dreams were evaluated in people experiencing different types of headache. Results showed people with migraine had increased frequency of dreams involving taste and smell. This may suggest that the role of some cerebral structures, such as amygdala and hypothalamus, are involved in migraine mechanisms as well as in the biology of sleep and dreaming. Music in dreams is rarely studied in scientific literature. However, in a study of 35 professional musicians and 30 non-musicians, the musicians experienced twice as many dreams featuring music, when compared with non-musicians. Musical dream frequency was related to the age of commencement of musical instruction but not to the daily load of musical activity. Nearly half of the recalled music was non-standard, suggesting that original music can be created in dreams. Pain It has been shown that realistic, localized painful sensations can be experienced in dreams, either through direct incorporation or from memories of pain. However, the frequency of pain dreams in healthy subjects is low. In one study, 28 non-ventilated burn victims were interviewed for 5 consecutive mornings during their first week of hospitalization. Results showed: * Thirty-nine percent of people reported pain dreams. * Of those experiencing pain dreams, 30 percent of their total dreams were pain-related. * Patients with pain dreams showed evidence of reduced sleep, more nightmares, higher intake of anxiolytic medication, and higher scores on the Impact of Event Scale. * Patients with pain dreams also had a tendency to report more intense pain during therapeutic procedures. More than half did not report pain dreams. However, these results could suggest that pain dreams occur at a greater frequency in populations currently experiencing pain than in normal volunteers. Self-awareness One study has linked frontotemporal gamma EEG activity to conscious awareness in dreams. The study found that current stimulation in the lower gamma band during REM sleep influences on-going brain activity and induces self-reflective awareness in dreams. Researchers concluded that higher order consciousness is related to oscillations around 25 and 40 Hz. Relationships Recent research has demonstrated parallels between styles of romantic attachment and general dream content. Assessment results from 61 student participants in committed dating relationships of six months duration or longer revealed a significant association between relationship-specific attachment security and the degree to which dreams about romantic partners followed. The findings illuminate our understanding of mental representations with regards to specific attachment figures. Death in dreams Researchers compared the dream content of different groups of people in a psychiatric facility. Participants in one group had been admitted after attempting to take their own lives. Their dreams of this group were compared with those of three control groups in the facility who had experienced: * depression and thoughts about suicide * depression without thinking about suicide * carrying out a violent act without suicide Those who had considered or attempted suicide or carried out violence had were more likely to have dreams with content relating to death and destructive violence. One factor affecting this was the severity of an individual's depression. Left and right side of the brain The right and left hemispheres of the brain seem to contribute in different ways to a dream formation. Researchers of one study concluded that the left hemisphere seems to provide dream origin while the right hemisphere provides dream vividness, figurativeness and affective activation level. A study of adolescents aged 10 to 17 years found that those who were left-handed were more likely to experience lucid dreams and to remember dreams within other dreams. Thank you for supporting Medical News Today Forgetting dreams Studies of brain activity suggest that most people over the age of 10 years dream between 4 and 6 times each night, but some people rarely remember dreaming. It is often said that 5 minutes after a dream, people have forgotten 50 percent of its content, increasing to 90 percent another 5 minutes later. Most dreams are entirely forgotten by the time someone wakes up, but it is not known precisely why dreams are so hard to remember. Steps that may help improve dream recall, include: * waking up naturally and not with an alarm * focusing on the dream as much as possible upon waking * writing down as much about the dream as possible upon waking * making recording dreams a routine Who remembers their dreams? There are factors that can potentially influence who remembers their dreams, how much of the dream remains intact, and how vivid it is. Age: Over time, a person is likely to experience changes in sleep timing, structure, and electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Evidence suggests that dream recall progressively decreases from the beginning of adulthood, but not in older age. Dream also become less intense. This evolution occurs faster in men than women, with gender differences in the content of dreams. Gender: A study of dreams experienced by 108 males and 110 females found no differences between the amount of aggression, friendliness, sexuality, male characters, weapons, or clothes that feature in the content. However, the dreams of females featured a higher number of family members, babies, children, and indoor settings than those of males. Sleep disorders: Dream recall is heightened in patients with insomnia, and their dreams reflect the stress associated with their condition. The dreams of people with narcolepsy may a more bizarre and negative tone. Dream recall and well-being One study looked at whether dream recall and dream content would reflect the social relationships of the person who is dreaming. College student volunteers were assessed on measures of attachment, dream recall, dream content, and other psychological measures. Participants who were classified as "high" on an "insecure attachment" scale were significantly more likely to: * report a dream * dream frequently * experience intense images that contextualize strong emotions in their dreams Older volunteers whose attachment style was classed as "preoccupied" were significantly more likely to: * report a dream * report dreams with a higher mean number of words Dream recall was lowest for the "avoidant" subjects and highest for the "preoccupied" subjects. Who dreams? Everyone dreams, although we may not remember our dreams. At different times of life or during different experiencs, our dreams might change. Children's dreams A study investigating anxiety dreams in 103 children aged 9 to 11 years observed the following: * Females more often had dreams containing anxiety than males, although they could not remember their dreams as often. * Girls dreamt more often than boys about the loss of another person, falling, socially disturbing situations, small or aggressive animals, family members, and other female people they may or may not recognize. Pregnancy Studies comparing the dreams of pregnant and non-pregnant women showed that: * Infant and child representations were less specific in women who were not pregnant. Among those who were pregnant, these images were more likely in the late third trimester than in the early third trimester. * During pregnancy, dreams were more likely to include the themes of pregnancy, childbirth, and fetuses. * Childbirth content was higher in the late third trimester than early in the trimester. * The group who were pregnant had more morbid elements in their dreams than those who were not. Caregivers Those that give care to family or people who have long-term illnesses often have dreams related to that individual. A study following the dreams of adults that worked for at least a year with individuals at United States hospice centers noted: * Patients tended to be clearly present in the dreams of caregivers, and the dreams were typically realistic. * In the dream, the caregiver typically interacted with the patient in their usual capacity but was also typically frustrated by the inability to help as fully as desired. Bereavement It is widely believed that oppressive dreams are frequent in people going through a time of bereavement. A study analyzing dream quality, as well as the linking of oppressive dreams in bereavement, discovered that oppressive dreams: * were more frequent in the first year of bereavement * were more likely in those experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression In another study of 278 people experiencing bereavement: * Fifty-eight percent reported dreams of their deceased loved ones, with varying levels of frequency. * Most participants had dreams that were either pleasant or both pleasant and disturbing, and few reported purely disturbing dreams * Prevalent themes included pleasant past memories or experiences, the deceased being free of illness, memories of the deceased's illness or time of death, the deceased in the afterlife appearing comfortable and at peace, and the deceased person communicating a message. * Sixty percent felt that their dreams impacted upon their bereavement process. Does everyone dream in color? Dreams may help us consolidate memories Younger people are more likely to dream in color. Researchers discovered in a study that: * About 80 percent of participants younger than 30 years old dreamed in color. * At 60 years old, 20 percent said they dreamed in color. The number of people aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s dreaming in color increased through 1993 to 2009. Researchers speculated that color television might play a role in the generational difference. Another study using questionnaires and dream diaries also found older adults had more black and white dreams than the younger participants. Older people reported that both their color dreams and black and white dreams were equally vivid. However, younger participants said that their black and white dreams were of poorer quality. Can dreams predict the future? Some dreams may seem to predict future events. Some researchers claim to have evidence that this is possible, but there is not enough evidence to prove it. Most often, this seems to be due to coincidence, a false memory, or the unconscious mind connecting together known information. Dreams may help people learn more about their feelings, beliefs, and values. Images and symbols that appear in dreams will have meanings and connections that are specific to each person. People looking to make sense of their dreams should think about what each part of the dreams mean to them as an individual. Books or guides that give specific, universal meanings to images and symbols may not be useful. However, for those who are interested in such books, there is a selection available for purchase online. Drug withdrawal One study followed the dream content of people who regularly use crack cocaine in Trinidad and Tobago during a period of abstinence: * Almost 90 percent of individuals reported drug-related dreams during the first month, mainly of using the drug. * Almost 61 percent had drug-related dreams after 6 months, mainly of using or refusing the drug. Thank you for supporting Medical News Today Vision and hearing loss People with complete vision loss have fewer visual dream impressions compared with sighted participants. People who have been unable to see from birth report more auditory, tactile, gustatory, and olfactory dream components, compared with sighted participants. The ability to see does not appear to affect emotional and thematic dream content. Those with other abilities One small study explored the dream diaries of 14 people with impairments. Four were born with paraplegia, and 10 were born unable to hear or speak. Deafness: When compared with 36 able-bodied individuals, findings showed that around 80 percent of the dream reports of participants with deafness gave no indication of their impairment. Many spoke in their dreams, while others could hear and understand spoken language. Paraplegia: Similarly, the dream reports of those with paraplegia showed that the participants often walked, ran, or swam in their dreams, none of which they had ever done in their waking lives. A second study looked at the dream reports of 15 people who were either born with paraplegia or acquired it later in life, due to a spinal-cord injury. Their reports revealed that 14 participants with paraplegia had dreams in which they were physically active, and they dreamed about walking as often as the 15 control participants who did not have paraplegia. Other research has suggested that the brain has the genetically determined ability to generate experiences that mimic life, including fully functioning limbs and senses. People who are born without hearing or unable to move are likely tapping into these parts of the brain as they dream about tasks they cannot perform while awake. We picked linked items based on the quality of products, and list the pros and cons of each to help you determine which will work best for you. We partner with some of the companies that sell these products, which means Healthline UK and our partners may receive a portion of revenues if you make a purchase using a link(s) above. [INS: :INS] Related coverage What is REM sleep? This article provides details on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, why we need it, how to ensure we get it, and how REM sleep is affected by alcohol. We also explain how REM sleep ties in with our dreams plus how it relates to the other phases of sleep that are necessary to rest the body and restore the muscles. Read now What's to know about sleep deprivation? Learn about sleep deprivation and the surprising effects it can have on your body and health. Our hormones, artery health, and how much fat we store are some aspects that can be badly affected if we get less than the amount of sleep we need to feel fully awake and alert. We examine the problems and what to do. Read now Dreams and nightmares: What are they? How do we dream and what exactly are nightmares? What are lucid dreams, wet dreams, and which dreams do we remember? This article examines some of the theories behind dreaming and what bad dreams and nightmares could mean. It also looks at which medical conditions are linked to dreams, and which drugs may help. Read now Five weird things you might do in your sleep Many people engage in strange behaviors during sleep. From the mildly embarrassing to the downright dangerous -- learn more about them in this Spotlight. Read now How to tell if you've had a good night's sleep Sleep problems are common, but can we really tell how well or how badly we slept? Sleep trackers might help, but they don't always reflect how we feel. Read now email email print share share Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia Neurology / Neuroscience Psychology / Psychiatry Additional information Article last updated by Adam Felman on Thu 28 June 2018. Visit our Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia category page for the latest news on this subject, or sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest updates on Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia. All references are available in the References tab. References This content requires JavaScript to be enabled. Blagrove, M., Fouquet, N. C., Henley-Enlion J. A., Pace-Schott, E. F., Davies, A. C., Neuschaffe, J. L., & Turnbull, O. (2011). Assessing the dream-lag effect for REM and NREM stage 2 dreams. PLoS One, 6(10): e26708. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3202556/ Firth, S. T., Blouin, J., Natarajan, C., & Blouin, A. (1986, February). A comparison of the manifest content in dreams of suicidal, depressed and violent patients [Abstract]. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 31(1), 48-53. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3948105 Foulkes, D. (1993, December). Dreams and REM sleep [Abstract]. Journal of Sleep Research. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2869.19 93.tb00090.x Frequently asked questions. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://dreams.ucsc.edu/FAQ/ Hess, S. A., Knox, S., Hill, C. E., Byers, T., & Spangler, P. (2014, June). Exploring the dreams of hospice workers [Abstract]. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, 31(4), 374-379. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23636683 Kahn, D., Pace-Schott, E., & Hobson, J. A. (2002, March). Emotion and cognition: feeling and character identification in dreaming [Abstract]. Consciousness and Cognition, 11(1), 34-50. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S10538100019 05379 Korabel'nikova, E. A. & Golubev, V. L. (2001). Dreams and interhemispheric asymmetry [Abstract]. Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova, 101(12), 51-54. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11811128 Lovati, C., DeAngeli, F., D'Amico, D., Giani, L., D'Alessandro, C. M., Zardoni, M., ... & Mariani, C. (2014, May). Is the brain of migraineurs "different" even in dreams? [Abstract] Neurological Science, 35(Suppl 1), 167-169. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24867858 MacDuffie, K. & Mashour, G. A. (2010). Dreams and the temporarlity of consciousness [Abstract]. American Journal of Psychology, 123(2), 189-197. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20518435 Mancia, M. (1999, December). Psychoanalysis and the neurosciences: a topical debate on dreams [Abstract]. International Journal on Psychoanalysis, 80(6), 1205-1213. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10669969 Malinowski, J. E. & Horton, C. L. (2014, August). Memory sources of dreams: the incorporation of autobiographical rather than episodic experiences [Abstract]. Journal of Sleep Research, 23(4), 441-447. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24635722 McNamara, P. (2011, July 30). Pre-cognitive dreams. Pschology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/dream-catcher/201107/p recognitive-dreams Medrano-Martínez, P. & Ramos-Platón, M. J. (2014, October). Generation and function of dreams [Abstract]. Reviews in Neurology, 59(8), 359-370. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25297479 Murzyn, P. (2008, December). Do we only dream in colour? A comparison of reported dream colour in younger and older adults with different experiences of black and white media [Abstract]. Consciousness and Cognition, 17(4), 1228-1237. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S10538100080 01323 Okada, H., Matsuoka, K., & Hatakeyama, T. (2011). Life span differences in color dreaming [Abstract]. Dreaming, 21(3), 213-220. Retrieved from http://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-10976-001 Pagel, J. F. (2012, November). What physicians need to know about dreams and dreaming [Abstract]. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine, 18(6), 574-579. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22965274 Purebl, G., Pilling, J., Konkol˙, T. B., Bódizs, R., & Kopp, M. (2012, July). Are oppressive dreams indicators in bereavement? [Abstract] Ideggyogyaszati Szemle, 65(7-8), 261-265. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23074846 Raymond, I., Nielsen, T. A., Lavigne, G., & Choiniére, M. (2002, November). Incorporation of pain in dreams of hospitalized burn victims [Abstract]. Sleep, 25(7), 765-770. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12405613 Reid, S. D. & Simeon, D. T. (2001, December). Progression of dreams of crack cocaine abusers as a predictor of treatment outcome: a preliminary report [Abstract]. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 189(12), 854-857. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11794579 Saurat, M. T., Agbakou, M., Attigui, P., Golmard, J. L., & Arnulf, I. (2011, December). Walking dreams in congenital and acquired paraplegia [Abstract]. Consciousness & Cognition, 20(4), 1425-1432. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21704532 Schred, & M., Ciric, P., Götz, S. (2004, November). Typical dreams: stability and gender differences. Journal of Psychology, 138(6), 485-494. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15612605 Schredi, M. & Piel, E. (2007, October). Prevalence of flying dreams. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 105(2), 657-660. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18065090 Schwartz, S. (2010, January). Life goes on in dreams. Sleep, 33(1), 15-16. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2802242/ Schwarz, S. & Maquet, P. (2002, January). Sleep imaging and the neuro-psychological assessment of dreams [Abstract]. Trends in Cognitive Science, 6(1), 23-30. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11849612/ Selterman, D., Apetroaia, A., & Waters, E. (2012). Script-like attachment representations in dreams containing current romantic partners [Abstract]. Attachment & Human Development, 14(5), 501-515. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22856620 Tirapu-Ustarroz, J. (2012, July). Neuropsychology of dreams [Abstract]. Reviews in Neurology, 55(2), 101-110. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22760770 Uga, V., Lemut, M. C., Zampi, C., Zilli, I., & Salzarulo, P. (2006, June). Music in dreams [Abstract]. Consciousness and Cognition, 15(2), 351-357. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16243543 Valli, K., Revonsuo, A., Pälkäs, O., Ismail, K. H., Ali, K. J., & Punamäki, R. L. (2005, March). The threat simulation theory of the evolutionary function of dreaming: Evidence from dreams of traumatized children [Abstract]. Cognition and Consciousness, 14(1), 188-218. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15766897 Voss, U., Holzmann, R., Hobson, A., Paulus, W., Koppehele-Gossel, J., Klimke, A., & Nitsche, M. A. (2014, June). Induction of self awareness in dreams through frontal low current stimulation of gamma activity [Abstract]. Nature Neuroscience, 17(6), 810-812. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24816141 Wright, S. T., Kerr, C. W., Doroszczuk, N. M., Kuszczak, S. M., Hang, P. C., & Luczkiewicz, D. L. (2014, March). The impact of dreams of the deceased on bereavement: a survey of hospice caregivers [Abstract]. American Joural of Hospice and Palliative Care, 31(2), 132-138. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23449603 Citations Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report: MLA Nichols, Hannah. "Dreams: Why do we dream?." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 28 Jun. 2018. Web. 12 Dec. 2018. ______________________________________________________________ APA Nichols, H. (2018, June 28). "Dreams: Why do we dream?." Medical News Today. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/284378.php. ______________________________________________________________ Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead. Recommended related news MNT Knowledge Center Latest news * Statins: Risk of side effects is low, say experts Statins: Risk of side effects is low, say experts For most people at risk of heart attack and stroke, using statins to lower cholesterol brings more benefits than risks, say the American Heart Association. * Does problem-solving stave off mental decline? Does problem-solving stave off mental decline? Is it true that by training your brain with problem-solving tasks, you can keep mental decline at bay later in life? A new study delves into the details. * These tiny sensors may detect cancer early These tiny sensors may detect cancer early Researchers use nanosensors to detect intracellular interactions that may signal cancer very early on. Their results may help detect lymphocytic leukemia. * Doctors love golf: Fact or fiction? Doctors love golf: Fact or fiction? In this year's Christmas special from The BMJ, researchers address an age-old question: Is it true that our physicians are avid golfers? * Excess belly fat common in those with high heart risk Excess belly fat common in those with high heart risk A European study of cardiovascular disease prevention finds that nearly two-thirds of those with high heart disease and stroke risk have excess waist fat. MNT Knowledge Center Popular in: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia * Why you feel tired all the time * The health risks of being a night owl * What too much sleep can do to your health * Is sleeping with socks on good for you? * What are hypnagogic hallucinations? Scroll to top MNT home * Popular news * Editorial articles * All news topics * Knowledge center * Your MNT * Log in or sign up * Newsletters * Share our content * About us * Our editorial team * Contact us * Advertise with MNT get our newsletter Health tips, wellness advice and more. _________________________ (BUTTON) Subscribe Your privacy is important to us. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside of the EU. If you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK. © 2004-2018 All rights reserved. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Privacy | Terms | Ad policy | Careers TRUSTe This page was printed from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/284378.php Visit www.medicalnewstoday.com for medical news and health news headlines posted throughout the day, every day. __________________________________________________________________ 2018 Healthline Media UK Ltd. All rights reserved. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Quantcast