9 Unknowable truths about sleep and dreams

1. Dreaming all night
It is said that dreams take place only in the sleep phase called "REM" (rapid eye movement). But, apparently, dreams take place in all stages of sleep, and REM and non-REM, Naiman believes. During REM sleep, we are more aware of dreams, unlike non-REM, but "if you do not see the dream, it does not mean it's not there," says Naiman. As the night advances, REM sleep periods are so long, so many of our dreams take place in the last third of the night.
2. Insects and fish do not have REM sleep
Although some dreams occur outside the REM stage, identifying this sleeping period to other species is very difficult. But all mammals and reptiles, even some birds, are going through the REM stage, so it's possible to dream, "Notes Science.
3. You will not remember your dream if the alarm clock wakes you up
The "trauma" of the alarm clock forces you to enter the real world and you may forget where you were "floating" a few seconds before. The best way to remember your dreams, Naiman advises, is to wake up gradually in a few minutes, and not to try hard to hang on to remembering dreams. "If you run after a dream, it will most likely run away from you," says Naiman.
4. If you remember your dreams, you can see it in the brain
One study in 2014 discovered activity in the temporo-parietal junction of those who regularly remembered their dreams. The differences in cerebral activity of those who remember dreams and those who fail to do so did not only record during sleep, but also while the participants in the study were active. Previous research has found that people who remember their dreams are more receptive to the sounds during sleep and during the day than people who can not remember their dreams.
5. The body reacts to dreams as if it were awake
Did not it happen to you upset somebody for something he did in one of your dreams? Did not you realize that if you tell the person why you're angry with her, would you look crazy? But from a biological point of view, it is normal that the feelings of the dream come to you in reality. "Dream experiences are recorded in the body and in the brain almost the same as the real ones," says Naiman. Blood pressure and heart beats can be enhanced, just like in a real stressful situation, helping to record these emotional experiences of the dream.
6. The dream takes place in real time
Despite the myth that says dreams take place in a fraction of a second, in reality dreams can last for 20, 30 and even 60 minutes. The duration of dreams is only a few minutes only at the beginning of the night, when REM periods are shorter. As we go in the night, the REM periods are stretching, and so are the dreams.
7. Nightmares do not only give rise to fear
Bad dreams are terrifying, but there are other emotions involved in "living" such a nightmare. Researchers studied the dreams of 331 participants in their study, and found that many nightmares are dominated by feelings of failure, worry, confusion or sadness and guilt. Researchers also found that men have nasty dreams focused on aggression, violence, and women's dreams focus on conflict in relationships.
8. Dreams are strange only when you call them strange
"When you dream, even if you play poker with a huge green squirrel and Queen Maria, there is nothing strange about it. It all becomes strange when you get up to reality and look at the dream from the point of view of the surrounding world. Only then does it seem strange, "says Naiman. Comparing the "oddity" of dreams to the real world is like comparing two culinary habits from different parts of the world. "We should refrain from interpreting dreams in the context of reality," Naiman advises. I mean, it's time to drop the dictionaries of dreams, it does not help us.
9. You can die in the dream, but you will live to tell the story in reality
Many people believe the myth that if you die in a dream, you die in reality. In fact, the opposite happens. Naiman even suggests that we are exploring this feeling. "If you have the opportunity to die in the dream, do not care about it! It's a nice experience. Some people believe that death in our dream proves that a consciousness is immortal, independent of the body. But anyway, you look at this experience, it remains interesting, "says Naiman....