Dreams
Dreams
Dreams (/dri:mz/) are a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep. The study of dreams is known as oneirology.
Etymology
The word "dream" comes from the Old English 'drēam', which means joy, mirth, noisy merriment, or music. However, the word underwent a significant change in meaning, becoming associated with the modern sense of dream during the Middle English period.
Definition
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 has reduced control over the content, visual images and activation of the memory. There is no cognitive state that has been as extensively studied and yet as frequently misunderstood as dreaming.
Types of Dreams
There are several types of dreams, including:
- Lucid Dreams: A lucid dream is a type of dream where the dreamer becomes aware that they are dreaming.
- Nightmares: A nightmare is a disturbing dream that causes the dreamer to wake up feeling anxious and frightened.
- Recurring Dreams: Recurring dreams repeat themselves with little variation in story or theme. These dreams may be positive, but most often they are nightmarish in content.
Interpretation of Dreams
The interpretation of dreams has been a topic of interest in science, religion, and literature since antiquity. Sigmund Freud's work, The Interpretation of Dreams, argued that the foundation of all dream content is the fulfillment of wishes, conscious or not.
Related Terms
- Sleep: A naturally recurring state of mind and body, characterized by altered consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity, reduced muscle activity and inhibition of nearly all voluntary muscles.
- REM Sleep: Rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep or REMS) is a unique phase of sleep in mammals and birds, characterized by random movement of the eyes, low muscle tone throughout the body, and the propensity of the sleeper to dream vividly.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dreams
- Wikipedia's article - Dreams
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