"Oh I had a strange dream today but I don't remember what it was " - This phrase has been heard every now and then. But have you asked yourself why we dream? or when do we dream? or why do we forget our dreams? or even why some dreams left us waken and frightened in the middle of the night? Well that will be a mystery unfolding itself... lets see if we have an answer
What are Dreams ?
Dreams are series of images of ideas and emotions rather than a movie, that usually occur involuntarily in the mind of the dreamer during certain stage of sleep.Mostly dreams occur in the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of the sleep when the activity of the brain resembles that of being awake. It is not necessary that dream occur only in the REM stage of sleep but other stages of sleep which is less memorable and less intense.
What Happens in the REM stage of sleep?
The Rapid Eye Movement stage of sleep is characterized by abundance of neurotransmitter (chemical compounds that relay information) Acetylcholine and nearly complete absence of neurotransmitter Histamine, serotonin and nor-epinephrine. According to studies electrical and chemical activity for the REM stage starts in the brain stem. The electrical and chemical stimulus leads to the production of low voltage desynchronized brain waves and low muscle tone throughout the body due to inhibition of the motor neurons causing almost complete paralysis called REM atonia.
The REM stage is immediately followed by clusters of brain waves from the brain stem that reaches the peak at the visual cortex leading to rapid eye movement. During this stage both the hemispheres are more coherent than in the state of being awake.
Why do we Dream?
This question itself arise a series of questions like do the dreams have some motives ? Does it relate to something else? Does it tells me of something that might happen in the future? To answer these complicated mystery various theories have been put forward from time to time to explain why we dream but till now no one is sure of which one stands out the rest.
Some experts say dreams are just random activity of the brain over our thoughts. So, that might be one reason why we see particular events or person about whom we have thought deeply enough for our brains to seep out the memory. Whereas some says dreams are manifestations of our deepest desires and anxiety. And some experts say dreams are ways to take out creativity, to solve problems in our daily lives. Well that need a hard foundation to believe to.
How dreams affect our body ?
Some studies show dreams are necessary for physical, mental and emotional health. While deprivation from dream can affect the body adversely. In a study where people passed the REM stage has been stopped from dreaming experienced Anxiety, difficulty in concentrating, weight gain, lack of concentration, lack of coordination, tendency to hallucinate and depression. So its better to dream than not to.
Do we remember our dreams ?
Well not all dreams can be remembered but some. Dreams that are dreamt in the REM stage of sleep can be remembered and recalled more easily. Whereas dreams in other stage of sleep are less vivid and hard to recall. It is said, the reason for forgetting dreams is shut down of memory centers which creates memories during sleep. While some says memories are created but dreams are hard to access.
Types of Dreams
1. Nightmares
A Nightmare is an unpleasant or so called Bad dreams which causes a strong negative response on the dreamer. The dreamers of nightmare usually wake up in fear or anxiety.
Nightmares are said to occur for the following reasons - Sleeping in awkward positions, stress, anxiety and drugs. Until and unless it turns to reality nightmares are of no harm.
2. Lucid Dream
Lucid dream is a dream where the dreamer is aware that he or she is dreaming. The dreamer may allegedly have some degree of control over the dream and its outcome. In a lucid dream you can have the edge to decide in which direction you want to take your dream into or what shall be the final goal of your dream. It usually occurs in a hybrid state of sleep which is between REM stage and being awake.
Thus Aristotle wrote : 'Often when one is asleep, there is something in conciousness which declares that what that present itself is but a dream'.
3. Day Dreaming
Day dreaming is actually a state of fantasy of one's happy thoughts, imaginations and hopes experienced while awake. During Daydreaming a person's contact with reality is blurred and substituted with fantasy. A daydreamer can be easily brought back into reality through distraction. Some people are easily carried away in day dreaming once they try to fulfill their wishes through thoughts. While studies show many creative ideas develop during daydreaming.
4. Dreams of Absent Minded Transgression
They are dreams where the dreamer absent mindedly performs an action that he or she has been trying to stop. Here one's thought itself put the person in a state where he might keep pushing himself to stop the action. For example : Dream of lighting a cigarette who is pushing himself to quit. Usually people having this type of dream wake up in guilt as it is the same action he or she is trying to stop in reality.
5. Recurring Dream
A Recurring dream is sometime pleasant and sometime unique, which is experienced repeatedly over a long period by the dreamer. The same dream that disturbs you may have something to tell you according to some experts.
Some studies show that the commonest of Recurring dreams is the one dreaming of being chased and pursued and contributes to more than half of recurring dream theme. People
suffering from Obstructive compulsive disorder, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder are more prone to recurring dream.
6. False Awakening
A false awakening is a vivid and convincing dream about waking up from sleep, while the dreamer is actually sleeping.
7. Mutual Dream
A mutual dream occurs when two person sees a dream at the same time sharing same emotion and same theme and environment. Though scientific research has been carried on this type of dream, its still a type of paranormal of its own.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DREAMS
What are Dreams ?
Dreams are series of images of ideas and emotions rather than a movie, that usually occur involuntarily in the mind of the dreamer during certain stage of sleep.Mostly dreams occur in the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of the sleep when the activity of the brain resembles that of being awake. It is not necessary that dream occur only in the REM stage of sleep but other stages of sleep which is less memorable and less intense.
What Happens in the REM stage of sleep?
The Rapid Eye Movement stage of sleep is characterized by abundance of neurotransmitter (chemical compounds that relay information) Acetylcholine and nearly complete absence of neurotransmitter Histamine, serotonin and nor-epinephrine. According to studies electrical and chemical activity for the REM stage starts in the brain stem. The electrical and chemical stimulus leads to the production of low voltage desynchronized brain waves and low muscle tone throughout the body due to inhibition of the motor neurons causing almost complete paralysis called REM atonia.
The REM stage is immediately followed by clusters of brain waves from the brain stem that reaches the peak at the visual cortex leading to rapid eye movement. During this stage both the hemispheres are more coherent than in the state of being awake.
Why do we Dream?
This question itself arise a series of questions like do the dreams have some motives ? Does it relate to something else? Does it tells me of something that might happen in the future? To answer these complicated mystery various theories have been put forward from time to time to explain why we dream but till now no one is sure of which one stands out the rest.
Some experts say dreams are just random activity of the brain over our thoughts. So, that might be one reason why we see particular events or person about whom we have thought deeply enough for our brains to seep out the memory. Whereas some says dreams are manifestations of our deepest desires and anxiety. And some experts say dreams are ways to take out creativity, to solve problems in our daily lives. Well that need a hard foundation to believe to.
How dreams affect our body ?
Some studies show dreams are necessary for physical, mental and emotional health. While deprivation from dream can affect the body adversely. In a study where people passed the REM stage has been stopped from dreaming experienced Anxiety, difficulty in concentrating, weight gain, lack of concentration, lack of coordination, tendency to hallucinate and depression. So its better to dream than not to.
Do we remember our dreams ?
Well not all dreams can be remembered but some. Dreams that are dreamt in the REM stage of sleep can be remembered and recalled more easily. Whereas dreams in other stage of sleep are less vivid and hard to recall. It is said, the reason for forgetting dreams is shut down of memory centers which creates memories during sleep. While some says memories are created but dreams are hard to access.
Types of Dreams
1. Nightmares
A Nightmare is an unpleasant or so called Bad dreams which causes a strong negative response on the dreamer. The dreamers of nightmare usually wake up in fear or anxiety.
Nightmares are said to occur for the following reasons - Sleeping in awkward positions, stress, anxiety and drugs. Until and unless it turns to reality nightmares are of no harm.
2. Lucid Dream
Lucid dream is a dream where the dreamer is aware that he or she is dreaming. The dreamer may allegedly have some degree of control over the dream and its outcome. In a lucid dream you can have the edge to decide in which direction you want to take your dream into or what shall be the final goal of your dream. It usually occurs in a hybrid state of sleep which is between REM stage and being awake.
Thus Aristotle wrote : 'Often when one is asleep, there is something in conciousness which declares that what that present itself is but a dream'.
3. Day Dreaming
Day dreaming is actually a state of fantasy of one's happy thoughts, imaginations and hopes experienced while awake. During Daydreaming a person's contact with reality is blurred and substituted with fantasy. A daydreamer can be easily brought back into reality through distraction. Some people are easily carried away in day dreaming once they try to fulfill their wishes through thoughts. While studies show many creative ideas develop during daydreaming.
4. Dreams of Absent Minded Transgression
They are dreams where the dreamer absent mindedly performs an action that he or she has been trying to stop. Here one's thought itself put the person in a state where he might keep pushing himself to stop the action. For example : Dream of lighting a cigarette who is pushing himself to quit. Usually people having this type of dream wake up in guilt as it is the same action he or she is trying to stop in reality.
5. Recurring Dream
A Recurring dream is sometime pleasant and sometime unique, which is experienced repeatedly over a long period by the dreamer. The same dream that disturbs you may have something to tell you according to some experts.
Some studies show that the commonest of Recurring dreams is the one dreaming of being chased and pursued and contributes to more than half of recurring dream theme. People
suffering from Obstructive compulsive disorder, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder are more prone to recurring dream.
6. False Awakening
A false awakening is a vivid and convincing dream about waking up from sleep, while the dreamer is actually sleeping.
7. Mutual Dream
A mutual dream occurs when two person sees a dream at the same time sharing same emotion and same theme and environment. Though scientific research has been carried on this type of dream, its still a type of paranormal of its own.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DREAMS
- Studies through REM show even animals dream. Dolphin show minimal rapid eye movement while armadilo and oppasum are among most prolific dreamers.
- Studies show 75% of the dreams are unpleasant.
- An average person have 3-5 dreams in a night .
- In a life span an average person spends a total of about six years dreaming.
- According to Hinduism, dream is the third state in the human lifetime other two being Awake sate and Sleep state.
- A person who explores a dream world, usually associated with Lucid dreaming are called Oneironaut and the study of dream is called Oneirology.
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