Seven sweet facts about dreams
People have been fascinated by their dreams for as long as humans have been having them! Records of 'dream diaries' exist as far back as Ancient Mesopotamia, with our dozy delusions inspiring artists from filmmaker David Lynch to singer Debbie Harry.
But what are dreams? And why do we have them? Well, we've put together this article to answer some of your biggest questions, to save you from having a 'mare next time you're trying to separate dreams from reality!
1. What is a dream?
A dream is a series of events or images that flash through your mind while you're asleep. Dreams can take on a story-like structure, or be completely random and unpredictable. People usually dream for around two hours every night, often about something which relates to the day they just had.
There are some dreams seen as more common than others. You might've heard people talk about flying in dreams, or falling, or even about turning up to an interview and realising you've got no clothes on!
2. Why do people dream?
Dreaming mostly takes place during the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of our sleep cycle. Roughly a quarter of our time asleep is spent in REM sleep, when the brain is more active - like it is when we're awake!
There are a few different theories as to why this happens. Some evolutionary psychologists believe that dreaming holds a specific survival value, allowing us to simulate stressful or dangerous situations and our response to them.
Others believe that dreaming is the period where the brain encodes memories, moving them from short-term to long-term storage. Researchers say this is also when unwanted connections are removed from our memory, allowing us to think more clearly in the day.
3. What do dreams mean?
The meaning of dreams is a subject that's fascinated people for centuries!
In 1900, neurologist Sigmund Freud published a book called 'The Interpretation of Dreams'. Freud believed the images we saw in dreams were representations of fears and anxieties in our subconscious, and that understanding our dreams when awake could allow us to take control of our fears.
Another theory suggests that dreams allow us to deal with anxieties and fears in our personal lives more directly. In 2011, a group of American scientists argued that dreams were like a form of overnight therapy, helping us to feel less nervous while we were awake.
4. Do animals dream?
Some of them do, yes!
Dreaming was once thought to be a uniquely human trait, but recent research suggests this might not be true! Research has shown that a variety of animals, from octopi to spiders, experience something resembling REM sleep, which means that these animals might also experience dreams.
5. What is a lucid dream?
Lucid dreaming is when a person having a dream is aware that what they're experiencing is a dream. Sometimes, in this state, people can even control their dreams. There's historical records of people having lucid dreams dating all the way back to Ancient Greece!
But, how does this come about? Well, there are some techniques people use that can help to induce lucid dreaming. There's the MILD technique, which involves setting a clear goal and objective before dozing off - "I will have a lucid dream!" And there's also the reality checks technique, where people check clocks and count their fingers whilst awake, to help notice any mistakes or oddities they come across while asleep.
6. Why do we get nightmares?
Most of us go to bed hoping for sweet dreams, but almost everyone deals with a nightmare from time to time.
Nightmares happen in both adults and children, usually coming later in the night. We can get nightmares from being stressed, anxious or unwell, as well as from seeing something frightening or having our sleep disturbed.
Read more about why stressful situations can affect our dreams.
7. Does cheese give you nightmares?
Probably not, no!
While it is true that eating late at night can lead to lower quality sleep, there is very little evidence that cheese specifically can bring about nightmares. That said, a 2015 Canadian study did find that students reported dairy foods affecting their sleep more than any others, so maybe beware the late-night brie to avoid cheesing your brain off!
Where can I learn more about dreaming?
A few resources to help you delve deeper into dreaming:
