For years, we’ve assumed that dreams serve a psychological purpose – consolidating memories, processing experiences and problems. But according to a leading Harvard psychiatrist and sleep researcher, the real function of dreams may actually be physiological.
Dr. J. Allan Hobson, a renowned expert on sleep and dreams, believes the major role of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep – the stage associated with dreaming – is to physically “warm up” and activate the brain, rather than to serve a psychological need.
“It’s like jogging for the brain,” Hobson explains. “During REM sleep, the brain is firing on all cylinders, anticipating the sights, sounds and emotions of the waking state. Just like our bodies don’t remember every step of a jog, but we know we’ve exercised, our minds are being tuned for conscious awareness, even if we don’t recall the details of our dreams.”
In other words, dreaming may be less about processing our experiences and more about preparing our brains for the day ahead. Hobson likens it to a “parallel consciousness state” that runs continuously, but is normally suppressed when we’re awake.
This physiological theory of dreaming is a refreshing departure from the long-held psychological models. As neurologist Dr. Mark Mahowald notes, most dream researchers start with fixed ideas about the psychological functions of dreaming and then try to make the data fit. But Hobson’s new study makes no such assumptions.
The evolutionary origins of REM sleep also support Hobson’s theory. REM sleep appears to be a relatively recent development, found in humans, other warm-blooded animals, and even birds. Early research suggests the REM state may help the fetal brain build crucial neural connections, especially in visual areas, even before the eyes are open.
Of course, this doesn’t mean dreams have no psychological significance at all. They can still reflect our current problems, anxieties and hopes. But as a recent study at Carnegie Mellon University found, people tend to attach more meaning to dreams that align with their existing biases and preferences.
Hobson’s theory also finds support in the phenomenon of lucid dreaming – the ability to observe a dream without waking up. Studies show that in lucid dreaming, the brain exhibits characteristics of both REM sleep and wakefulness, especially in the frontal regions that are quiet during normal dreams.
“This suggests there are two systems that can run in parallel,” Hobson explains. “The physiological brain exercise of REM sleep, and the more conscious, psychological aspects of dreaming.”
The implications of this research could be profound. A deeper understanding of the physiological function of dreams may shed new light on conditions like schizophrenia, where abnormal dream-like experiences intrude on waking consciousness. It’s an exciting new frontier in the science of sleep and the human mind.
1 comment
Interesting ideas. This also seems to be related to findings on the brain’s impact on the body. In one study two groups tried to learn a simple piano melody. One group practiced at the piano. The other group practiced by thinking about playing the melody. Both groups improved. And after two physical practice sessions the group who just thought about playing the melody were as good as the group who practiced at the piano!