Dreamer

Dreamer refers to an individual who experiences dreams during sleep. Dreams are a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep. The study of dreams is known as oneirology.

Definition

A dreamer is a person who dreams frequently. Dreams are a universal human experience that can be described as a state of consciousness characterized by sensory, cognitive and emotional occurrences during sleep. The dreamer often perceives these occurrences as if they were real.

Dreams and Sleep

Dreams mainly occur in the rapid-eye movement (REM) stage of sleep when brain activity is high and resembles that of being awake. REM sleep is revealed by continuous movements of the eyes during sleep. Dreams can also occur during other stages of sleep. However, these dreams tend to be much less vivid or memorable.

Interpretation of Dreams

The purpose and content of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific, philosophical and religious interest throughout recorded history. Dream interpretation is the process of assigning meaning to dreams. In many ancient societies, such as those of Egypt and Greece, dreaming was considered a supernatural communication or a means of divine intervention, whose message could be interpreted by people with these associated spiritual powers.

Dream Theories

There are many theories about why we dream, but no one knows for sure. Some researchers say dreams have no purpose or meaning. Others say we need dreams for our mental, emotional, and physical health. Studies have looked into the importance of dreams to our health and well-being. In one study, researchers woke subjects just as they were drifting off into REM sleep. They found that those who were not allowed to dream experienced:

• Increased tension
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Lack of coordination
• Weight gain
• Tendency to hallucinate

See Also

• Sleep
• Dream
• Oneirology
• Rapid-eye movement sleep
• Dream interpretation

References

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