Dreams and Sleep

While researchers somewhat understand the need for sleep, why we dream is not clear.  Dreams, which are sounds, emotions and visions that are experienced during sleep, remain one of life's biggest mysteries, despite being the subject of a history of scientific research, theory and speculation.

About Dreams and Sleep Stages

To learn more about dreams and sleep, it is helpful to understand the sleep cycle. There are five stages of the sleep cycle.

Stage 1 – Falling asleep – Transitional phase. Lasts about 5 – 10 minutes.

Stage 2 – Baseline sleep – Longest sleep stage. Body temperature falls and is a deeper phase of sleep than stage 1, but not as deep as stages 3 or 4.

Stages 3 & 4 – Delta sleep – Brain waves slow down. Lasts about 10 -30 minutes.

Stage 5 – REM Sleep (Rapid Eye Movement) – Brain waves are active, eyes move under the closed eyelids, blood flow, respiration and heart rate increase.

The entire sleep cycle repeats itself throughout the night. Dreams can occur during any of the stages, however, the most memorable and vivid dreams occur during the REM sleep stage which is the last stage of the sleep cycle.  During this sleep stage the brain is very active and respiration and heart rate accelerate.

Why Do We Dream

Dreams and sleep have been intriguing people since the beginning of time. While there are many theories about why we dream, no one knows for certain.  Some researchers feel that dreams don't have any purpose, while others believe that dreams are an important part of human well-being, helping us clear out our mind, manage emotions and express unconscious wishes and thoughts.  Researchers continue to search for the reasons of why we dream during sleep.

Disclaimer: These statements and products are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult your physician regarding any sleeping disorders.