Sleep is something that is common across all people but its one of the biggest mysteries in human life. Each day, we go on a new adventure that includes different napping stages and then moving on to the fascinating world of dreams. However, dreaming tends to pose questions such as: what do these dreams mean, what importance do they have and why is dreaming relevant in the first place?
There is a phase in sleep called REM (Rapid Eye Movement) which is known to have intense brain activity commencing the vivid imagery resembling sensations of dreaming. There are multiple theories as to why dreaming occurs while it is still a topic which people disagree on. A widely accepted theory maintains that emotions that are overbearing get processed during the night which helps an individual connect with their inner self. There is another theory which states that dreaming is beneficial for a person’s memory because it assists in the transference of data from short term memory into long term.
Quote: "Dreams are the touchstones of our character." – Henry David Thoreau
Freud is well-known for his comment that “Dreams are the royal road to the unconscious.” This implies that each dream we have is a representation of a strong desire or a deep-seated fear. Even though Freud's psychoanalytical theory has been overtaken by modern neuroscience, his views about dreaming and the nature of dreams still engages people.
The application of neuroimaging in recent years has enabled the direct observation of the brain in action during sleep, thus changing the understanding of the dream state. These studies add to the existing research suggesting that dreaming may be helpful in problem solving and creativity, because the brain processes new relationships amongst already existing concepts and experiences.
It is good to note however, some questions have not been addressed. Why is it that some dreams seem so vivid and only a few others are remembered? Where do those dreams or nightmares that persist come from? The physiological enigma of dreams still fascinates scientists and dreamers alike, encouraging us to delve into the areas of our imagination.
So, as we fall asleep this evening, we are brought into a world in which what we wish entirely sits within, and all that is real and physical seems to be a part of a hallucination. But as always, Edgar Allan Poe says it best: “Everything that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”
Quote: "Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you." – Marsha Norman