WHY DO WE DREAM?

WHAT IS A DREAM?

Dreams are defined as thoughts, visions, or feelings, and arise several times each night during your sleep. A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during specific stages of sleep. The study of content and function of dreams has been a topic of scientific philosophical, and even some religious interests throughout history.

THE STUDY OF DREAMS

Oneirology is the scientific name for the study of dreams. Current research regarding Oneirology studies the correlations between dreaming and current knowledge about the functions of the brain. Oneirology also studies how the brain works during dreaming, and how it pertains to memory formation and mental disorders. When working in Oneirology, research includes exploration of the mechanisms of dreaming, the influences on dreaming, and disorders shown to be linked to dreaming. Oneirology shares some similarities with neurology, the study of the nervous system; or more specifically, the brain and spinal cord. An important aspect to studying dreams is analyzing brain waves during the REM stage- something commonly practiced in neurology. While there is much debate on the function and origins of dreams, there could be great breakthroughs from studying dreams as a function of brain activity, according to US National Library of Medicine. ​