Dreams - Sense of Science

        Our dreams combine verbal, visual and emotional stimuli into a sometimes broken, nonsensical but an entertaining storyline.

   Dreams are defined as a "mental experience that occurs during sleep". 

Early age interpretation of dreams:

        For centuries people have pondered the meaning of dreams. In early age, dreams were thought as a medium between our earthly world and that of gods. There were many convincing interpretation of dreams by greeks and romans until the end of nineteenth century, Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung put forth modern theories of dreaming.
       These theories essentially fall into two categories:
* Idea that dreams are physiological stimulations.
* Idea that dreams are psychologically necessary.   

     Freud's theory is the idea that dreaming allows us to sort through unresolved, repressed wishes. Carl Jung also believed that dreams have psychological importance, but proposed different theories in this regard.

      A prominent neurobiological theory of dreams is the " activation - synthesis hypothesis", which states that dreams don't actually mean anything: they are merely electrically brain impulses that pull random thoughts and imagery from our memories. humans construct dream stories after they wake up, in a natural way to make sense out of it.

     Biologically, dreams mean a defence mechanism that provide evolutionary advantage because of its capacity to repeatedly simulate potential threatening events enhancing the neuro-cognitive mechanisms required for efficient threat perception and avoidance.

Biological aspect of dreaming:

       Many believe that dreams have symbolic meanings and can be used to predict future events. And other scientists say that dreams and nightmares are unrelated and have no meaning.

       Realm of dreams has been associated with strange symbols, unconscious impulses and fears.

The structure and content of thinking looks very much like the structure and content of dreaming. Dreams allow the brain to work through it conscious experiences. During which the dream appears to apply the same neurological machinery  used during the day to examine the past, future and other aspects of a person's inner world at night. 

 Biology of dreaming:

      On average we humans spend 2 hours at night dreaming. The cortex is the most recent part of our brain to evolve. The interaction between our limbic systems and cortex is responsible for our conscious experiences of emotions and sensations.

      Cortex is highly active during REM sleep. In addition to this, there is inhibition of incoming signals produced by the sensory systems. Hind brain ad mid brain generate pgo waves responsible cortical activation. Dreams are conscious interpretation of all this activity. The cognitive system organizes sensory information into meaningful interpretation when we are awake , processes all the internally generated signals. In combination with oculomotor activity, pgo waves are sent to visual and association cortex and the thalamus.

what do our dreams symbolize?

> animals -- part of your psyche that feels connected to nature and survival.

> being chased -- being threatened

> clothes -- how we want people to perceive us

> crosses -- religious beliefs

> exam -- self evaluation

> death -- a change

> falling -- anxieties

> food -- knowledge

> demons -- repressed emotions

> money -- self worth

> mountains -- obstacles

> people -- reflections of your own psyche

> being trapped -- inability to escape

> water -- unconscious mind set

> angels -- personification of a divine idea

> bags -- character and personality traits

> clock -- real life's time

> devil -- darkness and confusion

> forest -- experience, vision, emotions and shadows

> mask -- inability to be comfortable

> ring -- promise