Imagine it is a Friday night. Leaves are
rustling in the wind, you are all snuggled up in your blanket with hot cocoa in
one hand, a book in the other, and slowly, you doze off into an alternate
reality: a dream. Ever wonder what would happen if the two worlds of reality
and dreaming collide? Fortunately, they already have. In “Real-time dialogue
between experimenters and dreamers during REM sleep”, scientists were able to
have real-time communication with lucid dreamers. A lucid dream is when someone
is dreaming, and they are aware that they are dreaming which enables them to
make decisions and control some portion of the dream. In the study, researchers
asked participants questions, including math questions that the participants
had to solve, and were able to record their response using EEG, EMG, and EOG
signaling through their facial muscles as well as eye movements.
So, we have already communicated with dreamers.
Another check-mark next to the list of things science has accomplished, now
what? Why does this even matter? Whether one can recall it or not, everyone
dreams every single night creating their own personalized film. In the article
“Why Do We Dream?” by James Roland, dreams have a lot more purpose than one may
think. Some believe that it is just a little movie unconsciously enjoyed, but
past research indicates that it is so much more than that. Although there is
not yet a known unanimous consensus that concretely defines the role and
purpose of dreams, there are many vastly accepted theories. According to
Roland, dreaming is a confrontational therapy session, a muse, fight-or-flight
response training, and even an aid to the storage of memories.
The first role of dreaming is likened to a
therapy session: “confronting emotional dramas” (Roland). For example, say one
has a very difficult standardized exam that dictates the trajectory of their
life, and the night before the exam they are very anxious but know they need a
lot of rest. They go to bed that night hoping for the best in the morning. In
the time between, they have a dream where they failed the exam, and because of
this, the entire 10-year plan for their future falls apart making them start
all over. Back to square one. Sounds more like a nightmare, right? This is the
brain connecting with deep emotions that one will not allow their conscious
self to feel because if they do, they spiral. The second role of dreaming is a
means of fight-or-flight training. Studies have shown that the amygdala is one
of the most active parts of the brain when dreaming. This allows one to
unconsciously, and safely, create threatening scenarios enabling the practice
of survival instincts. The third role of dreaming is turning dreams into a muse
which enables creativity and inspiration. For example, say Sam wakes up one
morning with a bright idea she saw or heard in a dream before. Whether it is
the chorus to the new song she’s creating, the plot to a film she’s making, or
the vivid image of a canvas she’s painting, this inspiration originated in a
dream, and overall making dreams her muse. Finally, the last role of a dream is
acting as a memory aid. Many college students pride themselves in pulling an
“all-nighter” the night before an exam thinking that it is the best and most
efficient way to remember and store information. They could not be more wrong.
Ever heard of the phrase “Just sleep on it.”? It is not a coincidence. Past
research shows that sleep helps store important memories (Roland). This is
especially true when it comes to learning and understanding critical
information.
Overall, dreaming is a realm still not completely understood by scientists. However, what is known is that the 4 main roles of dreaming discussed are essential in the progress of one’s personal and daily life – or should I say nightlife.
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