Dreams are a universal human experience, and researchers have made significant progress in understanding their nature. Here’s a brief overview:
What happens when we dream:
- Brain activity: During REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, brain activity increases, similar to being awake. This is when most dreams occur.
- Neurotransmitters: Chemicals like norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine regulate the dream process.
- Memory consolidation: Dreams may help process and consolidate memories, especially emotional ones.
- Emotional release: Dreams can serve as an emotional release, allowing us to work through challenges in a safe environment.
Why we forget most of our dreams:
- Brain chemistry: The same neurotransmitters that regulate dreaming also suppress memory consolidation during REM sleep.
- Memory overwrite: New experiences and memories can overwrite existing ones, making dreams harder to recall.
- Lack of attention: We often don’t prioritize remembering dreams, making them fade from our conscious awareness.
- Decay over time: Dream memories can decay quickly, making them difficult to recall after waking.
While we still don’t fully understand dreams, research continues to uncover their mysteries.
