A dream is a succession of thoughts, images, sounds or emotions which the mind experiences during sleep.[1] The content and purpose of dreams are not fully understood, though they have been a topic of speculation and interest throughout recorded history. The scientific study of dreams is known as oneirology. The technology for studying dreams has been around for a few decades.
Throughout history, people have sought meaning in dreams or divination through dreams.[2] Dreams have been described physiologically as a response to neural processes during sleep, psychologically as reflections of the subconscious, and spiritually as messages from gods, the deceased, predictions of the future or from the Soul, for symbology is the language of the Soul. Many cultures practice dream incubation, with the intention of cultivating dreams that were prophetic or contained messages from the divine.
Judaism has a traditional ceremony called "Hatavat Halom" – literally meaning making the dream a good one. Through this rite disturbing dreams can be transformed to give a positive interpretation by a rabbi or a rabbinic court
During sleep the eyes are closed, so that the brain to some degree becomes isolated from the outside world. Moreover all signals from the senses (except olfaction) must pass through the thalamus before they reach the brain cortex, and during sleep thalamic activity is suppressed.[23] This means that the brain mainly works with signals from itself. A well-known phenomenon in dynamical physical systems where the level of input and output from the system is low is that oscillation makes spontaneous resonance patterns to occur. Hence, dreams may be the simple consequence of neural oscillation
- Dreams for testing and selecting mental schemas
- Psychology of sleep and dreams
- Dreams as resonance in neural circuits
- Dreams for removing junk
- Dreams for strengthening of semantic memories
- Dreams as excitations of long-term memory
- Continual-activation theory
- Neurology of dreaming
- The cultural meaning of dreaming
Throughout history, people have sought meaning in dreams or divination through dreams.[2] Dreams have been described physiologically as a response to neural processes during sleep, psychologically as reflections of the subconscious, and spiritually as messages from gods, the deceased, predictions of the future or from the Soul, for symbology is the language of the Soul. Many cultures practice dream incubation, with the intention of cultivating dreams that were prophetic or contained messages from the divine.
Judaism has a traditional ceremony called "Hatavat Halom" – literally meaning making the dream a good one. Through this rite disturbing dreams can be transformed to give a positive interpretation by a rabbi or a rabbinic court
During sleep the eyes are closed, so that the brain to some degree becomes isolated from the outside world. Moreover all signals from the senses (except olfaction) must pass through the thalamus before they reach the brain cortex, and during sleep thalamic activity is suppressed.[23] This means that the brain mainly works with signals from itself. A well-known phenomenon in dynamical physical systems where the level of input and output from the system is low is that oscillation makes spontaneous resonance patterns to occur. Hence, dreams may be the simple consequence of neural oscillation
- Dreams for testing and selecting mental schemas
- Psychology of sleep and dreams
- Dreams as resonance in neural circuits
- Dreams for removing junk
- Dreams for strengthening of semantic memories
- Dreams as excitations of long-term memory
- Continual-activation theory
- Neurology of dreaming
- The cultural meaning of dreaming
