“Exploring the Mysteries: Unraveling the Science behind Dreams” | Easter T Sangtam, NU Lumami, Department of Mass Communication

Last night while you were sleeping, what did you dream about? Did you recall your dream when you awoke? Do you still recall it? What kind of memory is that?

One of the most illogical topics a scientist may choose to research is dreaming. Dreams are a common occurrence in everyone’s life. But they are inherently arbitrary. They cannot be shared. Then, how can we comprehend dreams in general, beyond the hazy, unreliable memories we have of them while we are awake? How can we investigate them scientifically and provide an explanation for why we dream?

Humanity has long been fascinated by dreams, which have sparked many interpretations throughout history and piqued our interest. Though formerly thought to be elusive and mysterious, research has shed significant light on the nature, purposes, and underlying mechanisms of dreams. Scientific research has revealed numerous facets of dreams, providing a more thorough knowledge of this puzzling phenomena. Researchers have used a variety of techniques to examine dreams, including electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which have revealed specific patterns of brain activity during dreaming, especially in the rapid eye movement (REM) period of sleep.

Several explanations have emerged, yet it’s unclear what dreams are exactly for. One popular theory says that dreams contribute to the processing and integration of newly learned information, aiding in memory consolidation. Additionally, emotional control, creative problem-solving, and problem-solving skills have all been connected to dreams, suggesting that they may serve as a vehicle for the mind to explore potential futures and support adaptive cognitive functioning.

Techniques have been created by researchers to examine the content of dreams, including the use of content analysis, questionnaires, and dream diaries. It might be difficult to interpret dreams subjectively, but similar themes, symbols, and emotions have been found, providing insight into both the general and personal aspects of dreams. Dreams are influenced by cultural and personal experiences, which highlights the significance of context in deciphering their meaning.

The theories about dreams put forward by Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud have had a profound impact on how psychology views dreams. In contrast to Jung, who focused on the significance of patterns and the collective unconscious, Freud proposed that dreams serve as covert manifestations of suppressed impulses and internal conflicts. The activation-synthesis theory and other contemporary approaches in cognitive neuroscience contend that dreams are the result of the brain’s attempt to make sense of bizarre neural activity while we sleep.

Lucid dreaming, in which people become conscious of their dream state while still in it, is an intriguing feature of dreaming. The intersection of consciousness and dreams has been the subject of extensive scientific study on lucid dreaming. Researchers have investigated methods to induce lucid dreaming, which enables people to actively engage in and control their dream experiences.

Vivid and powerful dream experiences can be a part of some sleep disorders, including nightmares, sleepwalking, and sleep paralysis. In order to understand the underlying causes and find successful therapies, scientific research into these diseases examines both the neurological and psychosocial components.

Future study lines provide potential for revealing new mysteries about dreams, a topic that is still the focus of scientific investigation. Exciting new directions for further investigation are provided by improvements in computational modelling, brain imaging techniques, and multidisciplinary research combining psychology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence