Unravelling the Science Behind Dreams

The concept of dreaming has fascinated humanity for decades, as its psychological and biological aspects stand at two ends of a spectrum. Scientifically, dreams occur during the REM cycle of sleep, where the brain remains highly active even though the body is completely at rest. Psychologists suggest that dreams serve various functions like processing emotions and consolidating memories. While Freud theorised that dreams were a pathway to an individual's unconscious mind,  modern cognitive theories argue that dreams have a more logical explanation. Though their exact purpose remains a mystery, dreams are undeniably essential for our psychological and biological wellbeing.

What is REM sleep?

Dreams occur mostly during the 4th stage of sleep: REM, or the Rapid Eye Movement Stage. This stage forms about 25% of the total sleep, with cycles lasting from 10 minutes up to an hour. It includes increased breathing and heart rates, temporary limb paralysis, and quick jerks of the eye. Although asleep, this is when the brain is active and behaves similarly to when a person is awake. If a person is woken up during REM sleep, they are likely to recall bizarre scenarios; these are the dreams.

The Meaning Behind a Dream