How we dream and why we dream
When investigating the interpretation of dreams, it is important
to examine just what role dreams play in our lives. Dream
research has shown that dreams play an important role, both
physically and psychologically, and a thorough understanding of
how we dream and why we dream is an important basis for anyone
interested in dream interpretation.
The physical side of dreaming During dream sleep, the body goes
through some important changes. When in dream sleep, the level
of adrenaline release goes up, the blood pressure rises, and the
hear rate goes up as well. It is important to note the results
that scientists have found on brain waves and dreaming. Dream
research has shown that brain activity during dream sleep is
actually higher than during normal waking hours. Therefore,
dreaming could be thought of in many ways as a higher state of
consciousness.
Dream sleep is also known as REM sleep, or rapid eye movement
sleep. As the name implies, the eyes move rapidly beneath their
closed lids during dream sleep. Dream sleep takes place in the
final state of sleep and takes up between 15% and 20% of sleep
time for the average person. Every person will dream between
four and seven times during the average night, but the dreams
most likely to be remembered in the morning are those that take
place closest to waking.
Just because the dreamer does not remember the dreams, however,
does not mean they did not occur. Every person dreams every
night, whether they remember those dreams or not. It typically
takes between 30 and 90 minutes from falling asleep to the start
of dreaming. After the deepest stage of sleep is reached, the
dreamer will cycle in and out of REM sleep during the rest of
the night. During REM sleep, the blood pressure and heart rate
both fluctuate and increase.
It is also important to know that the body is completely
immobile during dream sleep. While we may toss and turn during
other parts of the sleep cycle, the muscles remain completely
relaxed during dream sleep. This is commonly known as "dream
paralysis" or "sleep paralysis".
The psychological side of dreaming While science still does not
fully understand the function of dream sleep, we do know that
dreaming is essential to our physical and psychological well
being. Studies have shown that those who are deprived of dream
sleep exhibit a variety of psychological symptoms. In one study,
volunteers were awakened just before they could enter the REM
sleep cycle, then allowed to fall asleep again. This cycle was
repeated throughout the night.
Even though all the volunteers sleep the same amount of time as
ususal, they exhibited an impairment in their daily activities
The subjects exhibited disoriention, depression and other
psychological ills. In addition, the dream deprived volunteers
showed irritability and quick tempers as well. As the study
continued thorugh several consectutive nights, the volunteers
continued to become more and more agitated and psychologically
unwell.
This study, as well as subsequent studies have shown that
dreaming is an integral part of our well being. Further studies
have confirmed the importance of dreaming, and the psychological
effects caused by depriving sleepers of the ability to dream.