Unlocking the Mystery of Dreams

Dreams have captivated thinkers since ancient times, but their mystery is now closer than ever to being resolved, thanks to new technology that allows scientists to observe the sleeping brain at work.

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A long time ago, people thought dreams were messages from the gods. They believed dreams could show the future. In ancient Greece, sick people slept in special temples because they wanted to have dreams that would heal them. Modern dream science began with Sigmund Freud in the late 1800s. He believed that our dreams show our hidden feelings and desires. In the 1950s, scientists discovered REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. During this time, the brain is very active, and our eyes move quickly. B Adults spend about 25% of their sleep in REM. This is when most of our dreams happen. When researchers wake people up during REM sleep, they usually remember clear and colourful dreams. Using special machines, scientists saw that the brain in REM sleep looks almost the same as an awake brain. All mammals and birds have REM sleep. Jerry Siegel, a sleep expert, thinks REM sleep helps control body temperature. He says REM sleep makes the brain warmer, and non-REM sleep makes it cooler. This might help the brain rest and fix itself. C Scientists do not always agree on why we dream. Some scientists, like Allan Hobson, think dreams are just random pictures. In the 1970s, he said that the brain sends random signals during REM sleep, and these signals create the images we see. If this is true, some people wondered why we should even study dreams at all. D But recently, new ideas have changed how scientists think. Mark Solms used modern brain scanners to look at sleeping brains. He found that the parts of the brain that control our emotions are very active while we dream. This showed that Sigmund Freud might have been right about dreams and human feelings. E However, the part of the brain that controls logical thinking is not very active during REM sleep. This is why dreams often do not make sense and seem crazy. But another part of the brain that solves problems is very active. Researchers think this is why people sometimes find answers to difficult problems while they are sleeping. F Deirdre Barrett, a teacher at Harvard, agrees with this idea. She says that many famous artists got their best ideas from dreams. In her studies, she found that normal people can also solve everyday problems in their dreams. To do this, you just need to think about the problem right before you fall asleep. Dreaming can also help people learn new physical skills, like gymnastics or sports. G Dreams are also very useful in psychology. Clara Hill says that dreams help doctors understand what a patient is really thinking. Dreams can show hidden feelings. Another researcher found that people who have very clear dreams are usually happier and less depressed. She thinks that dreaming helps us deal with strong emotions and keeps our minds healthy.