The Science Behind Dreams, REM, Sleep Paralysis

For centuries, people have debated the significance of dreams and what they indicate. According to ancient civilizations, dreams conveyed predictions and linked humanity to divine messages. Several studies have attempted to determine the neurological origins of dream experiences, yet certain concerns remain unanswered. Dreams have been thoroughly researched from a variety of angles, concentrating on various facets of the phenomena. Images, feelings, ideas, emotions, apparent speech, and motor activity are all part of the composite dream experience, which takes place while you’re sleeping. Let’s understand the science behind dreams, REM and Sleep paralysis.

Modern Theories on Dreams

According to some contemporary theories, dreams may not genuinely represent anything and instead are just a collection of fragments from various memories that we have. These are typically the memories that come to mind first or that we find ourselves thinking about most frequently. However, some claim that dreams serve a more significant and nuanced purpose:

1. To Organize Your Memory

We are aware that our memory is organized during sleep. People who don’t get enough sleep seem to retain their memories less clearly and have less concentration. In a different approach, dreaming could help the growth of memory storage. During the REM stage of sleep and dreams, your brain may remove memories it doesn’t require (or that may be detrimental) to create room for new beneficial knowledge.

2. To Process Emotions

The processing of emotions is one new idea for why we dream. We are aware that sleep affects our mood because people who are deprived of sleep are more inclined to respond angrily and fearfully during the day. We now understand that certain regions of the brain related to dreaming also process emotions and visual memories. Deep inside the temporal lobe of the brain, the hippocampus has a central role in our ability to remember, imagine and dream. Therefore, since people who receive less REM sleep (and dream less), tend to have more difficulties processing emotions during waking hours, dreams may be related to one’s emotional condition.

3. Purpose of Evolution

Some claim that since other animals also dream, dreaming must have some sort of evolutionary function. We may be able to solve problems while in an unconscious state, or we may be able to recreate dangerous circumstances so that we are better ready to deal with them in real life.

What Happens in the Brain when We Dream? Dreams and Neurobiological Process

Everyone dreams (even if you don’t recall them), yet everyone’s dreaming experiences are unique, which is why dreaming is such a fascinating topic. We do know that you can have many dreams in a night and that the majority endure between 5 and 20 minutes. Variability can be seen in the intensity, recall, and dreaming experience. Some people can clearly recall their dreams, while others cannot. While some people frequently repeat dreams, others hardly ever do. Some people only recall a few dreams in their lives, while others remember their dreams every night. Some people have lucid dreams, but most people do not. While some people dream in black and white, others dream in colour.

Researchers were unable to access or quantify the electrical activity that takes place in the brain during all states of consciousness prior to the development of the electroencephalogram (EEG). It was often thought that sleep was a completely resting condition. However, different stages of sleep include diverse amounts of brain activity. Depending on how awake or relaxed we are, our brain alternates between four major wave patterns (alpha, theta, delta, beta).

What Happens to your Body during REM sleep?

Any stage allows for dreaming, although it seems that REM is the state where dreams happen the most frequently. REM sleep has the most similar brain activity to a wakeful state. The REM period of sleep appears to be when dreams are most powerful, and people tend to remember more of their dreams when they awaken immediately after REM sleep. In addition, after REM sleep, people usually appear to be more intellectually active.

90 minutes after you go to sleep, REM sleep often begins. It usually takes 10 minutes for the first REM cycle to complete. The last REM stage may last up to an hour as each succeeding one becomes longer. Breathing and heart rate speed up. Since your brain is more active during REM sleep, you may experience vivid dreams. REM is significant because it activates the brain regions involved in learning and is linked to an increase in protein synthesis. Babies can spend up to 50% of their sleep time in the REM state, but adults only spend approximately 20%.

When you dream, your entire brain is engaged on some level. However, your prefrontal cortex is less active during REM sleep. This is the area of the brain in charge of planning and reasoning. But since prefrontal brain activity is lower during REM sleep, we frequently do not detect the strangeness or implausibility of a dream until we wake up. This is why your ability to fly or the appearance of demons feels to be so realistic until you awaken from your dream (or nightmare).

What are the Pros and Cons of REM Dreaming?

Pros	Cons
Emotional Processing: REM dreaming allows the brain to process and regulate emotions, helping individuals deal with stressful or intense experiences.	Sleep Disturbances: Intense dreams during REM sleep can disrupt the sleep cycle, leading to sleep fragmentation and potential sleep disorders.
Memory Consolidation: REM dreaming plays a crucial role in consolidating and integrating memories from the day, aiding in learning and long-term memory retention.	Nightmares: During REM sleep, vivid and distressing nightmares can occur, causing emotional distress and sleep disturbances.
Creativity and Problem-solving: Some individuals report gaining insights, creativity, and problem-solving abilities from their REM dreams.	Sleep Paralysis: REM sleep is associated with sleep paralysis, a temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up, which can be frightening.
Simulation and learning: REM dreams may simulate real-life scenarios, allowing individuals to practice responses to various situations, enhancing learning processes.	Simulation and Learning: REM dreams may simulate real-life scenarios, allowing individuals to practice responses to various situations, enhancing learning processes.
Emotional Release: REM dreaming provides a safe outlet for emotional release, helping individuals cope with emotional challenges and stress.	REM Behavior Disorder: This is a rare condition where individuals physically act out their dreams during REM sleep, which can result in injury to themselves or their sleep partners.
Dream Lucidity: REM sleep is more likely to lead to lucid dreaming, where individuals become aware that they are dreaming and can sometimes control the dream’s content.	Excessive Daytime Ssleepiness: Intense or disruptive REM dreaming may contribute to daytime sleepiness and decreased alertness.
Dream Exploration: REM dreams can offer a unique and often surreal experience of exploring imaginative and fantastical worlds.	REM Deprivation Effects: Prolonged REM sleep deprivation can have negative effects on mood, cognitive function, and overall well-being.

Table: Pros and cons of REM Sleep – The Science Behind Dreams, REM, Sleep Paralysis

Did Someone Face Sleep Paralysis? Is Sleep Paralysis True?

Imagine, you wake up from sleep, but you cannot move your body. This is a common symptom of sleep paralysis, which is a condition in which a person cannot move or speak for a few minutes upon waking. It can be a frightening experience, but it is generally harmless. When you are in REM, your brain stops the muscles in your limbs from responding to prevent you from acting out your dreams and injuring yourself. When you enter or leave REM, you may experience sleep paralysis. The best way to cope with sleep paralysis is to stay calm and try to focus on positive thoughts. Deep breathing can also help. 8% to 50% of people experience sleep paralysis during their lifetime.

What is the main cause of Sleep Paralysis?

There is evidence to support the theory that REM sleep and waking overlap create sleep paralysis. The hallucinations that come along with sleep paralysis are “identical to hypnagogic hallucinations and are probably a consequence of dream imagery occurring during wakefulness,” according to research. There are further causes and explanations for sleep paralysis, but we won’t get into them much here.

As is evident from today’s discoveries, we still have much to learn about what happens in the brain when we sleep and dream. We still have work to do to understand why we dream in the first place. Till then, sweet dreams! 🙂

FAQs

Can you control your dreams?

Some individuals can learn to control their dreams through a practice called lucid dreaming. Lucid dreaming occurs when you become aware that you are dreaming while you are still in the dream. With practice, some people can gain varying degrees of control over their dream experiences.

Why do dreams feel so real?

Dreams can feel real because the brain is remarkably skilled at generating vivid sensory experiences during sleep. The brain’s activity during dreaming can closely resemble wakeful brain activity, leading to the perception of lifelike sensations.

Is it possible to have the exact same dream twice?

While it is uncommon, it is possible for some people to have recurring dreams with very similar content. These dreams might vary slightly or involve the same theme or scenario.

Why do we forget dreams?

The process of forgetting dreams is not entirely understood, but it likely involves a combination of factors. One explanation is that the brain prioritizes the consolidation of important memories during sleep, and dream content may not be considered crucial for long-term storage.

Is it normal to dream every night?

Yes, it is considered normal to dream every night. Dreaming is a natural part of the sleep cycle, and most individuals experience multiple dreams during a typical night’s rest.

Can dreams predict the future?

No scientific evidence supports the idea that dreams can predict the future. Dreams are a product of our subconscious mind and often reflect our thoughts, emotions, and experiences, but they do not have predictive powers.

Is dreaming good or bad?

Dreaming is a natural and essential process for most people. It plays a role in emotional processing, memory consolidation, and overall mental well-being. As such, dreaming is generally considered to be a beneficial aspect of sleep.

When you talk in your sleep, are you telling the truth?

Talking in your sleep, also known as somniloquy, does not necessarily reflect truthfulness. Sleep talking usually occurs during non-REM sleep and is thought to be a result of fragmented dream content or subconscious thoughts rather than deliberate communication.

Why do people laugh in their sleep?

Laughing during sleep, also known as sleep laughter, can happen during dreams that involve humorous or joyful scenarios. It is a natural part of the dreaming process and is generally harmless.

Does depression make someone dream more?

Depression can affect sleep patterns and dream experiences. Some individuals with depression may experience more frequent and vivid dreams, while others may have disturbances in their sleep, such as insomnia, which can impact dream recall. However, the relationship between depression and dreaming is complex and can vary from person to person. If someone is experiencing unusual changes in their dream patterns along with other symptoms of depression, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and support.