Post created by Maggie
Many people spend a good amount of time wondering if their dreams have a deeper meaning, purpose, or explain unconscious desires in their life?
In this blog, we are going to dive into the history and meaning of dreams, and what is actually going on inside that brain of yours.
In many cultures dreams are described as “mystical”. Great discoveries like the periodic table and even some of the greatest song hits simply arise from dreams. It can be described by some as “a window into our deepest selves”!
Neuroscientists state “that our dreams are constructed entirely from our memories”. But how do dreams occur? Let's find out:
Before you decide to clock out for the night your brain is compiling tons of neurons, and all that electrical activity creates electromagnetic waves. As we fall asleep, brain activity decreases, and close to an hour and a half later the brain waves look exactly like we were awake.
So then, you must be wondering: what is the difference between being asleep or awake if our brain activity is functioning the same? Well, that little structure called the pons within our brain stem is full of activity. Our pons functions to practically paralyze us, so as we sleep, the only thing moving is our eyes (called rapid eye movement). When the pons fails to function proper sleep disorders arise. Rem Behavior Disorder is an example, leading some people to sleep in sleeping bags with gloves so they can’t act out their dreams!
So, why do our dreams seem so bizarre or disoriented? Well, surprisingly when we sleep the part of our brain that controls logic is turned off (aka your common sense). On the other hand, the part of your brain that controls emotions is heightened. This is why people often dream of their greatest fears or accomplishments, or even their true love. One reason we forget our dreams is because our norepinephrine levels are extremely low during rem sleep, and this is heightened when awake to create memories.
Another bizarre fact about dreams is that running, falling, and having sex is the most popular of dreams according to a study. Women tend to dream of both sexes equally, whereas men dream of men more. Only 5% of our dreams are in locations we do not know of! Lucid dreams are ones that people can control on their own, and this is due to the awakening of the frontal cortex! There are many bizarre aspects of our brains to be further studied!
Okay, I bet the question you all want to be answered is: What do our dreams mean?
Well, simply enough, most of our dreams come from day to day memories. Neuroscientists say that our dreams are not meant to provide us with a singular solution in our lives but rather provide us with a plethora of solutions.
Although throughout history scientists and psychoanalysis have come up with many conclusions as to why we dream, some of the greatest science still remains unknown.
Fun facts about dreams :
We spend ⅕ of our sleep dreaming, even though most are forgotten!
Some neuroscientists suggest drinking three glasses of water before you go to bed to help you remember your dreams (or wake up in the middle of the night with a full bladder).
Dreams can help us improve our memory or even help us forget memories our brains need to discard.
Reference:
“The Mind, Explained.” Netflix Official Site, 12 Sept. 2019, www.netflix.com/watch/81062189?trackId=14170286&tctx=1,0,c0e46758-7189-4622-8fce-26dae76772a6-559106170,1381a9b4-d2b6-434d-bc82-1aee02d98d01_57483127X3XX1587247863625,1381a9b4-d2b6-434d-bc82-1aee02d98d01_ROOT.
“The Science of Dreams.” Rewire Me, 28 June 2016, www.rewireme.com/wellness/the-science-of-dreams/.