A series of thoughts, emotions, or images experienced during sleep as real events. Most dreams are visual, but they can also involve the other senses, such as taste and hearing. Dreams occur during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, a portion of the sleep cycle accompanied by fast, jerky eye movements and irregular heartbeat and breathing. REM periods last on average 10 to 20 minutes each and occur every 1.5 hours during the night. Dreaming is found in almost all mammals, but its function remains unclear. Depriving a person of dreams by waking when REM sleep begins causes irritability and restlessness and may lead to emotional problems. Dreams have been considered the bearers of special messages since ancient times, and many psychiatrists believe that dreams provide clues to a person’s unconscious mind. Dreaming may also have a part in consolidation of information into long-term memory.
Dreaming is a psychological process that happens while we sleep. It’s generally believed to transpire solely during episodes of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. These episodes last approximately 20 minutes and happen four to five times each night. Compared to other stages, the REM stage is characterized by increased activity. This includes a rise in blood flow and brain temperature, along with abrupt shifts in heart rate and blood pressure.
Typically, dreams reflect the concerns and thoughts that occupy us during the day. One could view dreaming as a mechanism that organizes and processes emotional experiences, perceptions, and concepts. When individuals are awakened during the phase of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, they tend to recount exceptionally vivid dreams.