The Nature and Function of Dreams

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The Nature and Function of Dreams

There is a state of consciousness in which one could be or experience anything imaginable. This state encompasses the ability to dream (1). The dream state is quite remarkable and incorporates infinite possibilities for the dreamer within each of us. Nietzsche (1844-1900), a German philosopher, points out that dreams were a puzzle since “the ages of rude beginning of culture” when “man believed that he was discovering a second real world in a dream... (2).” The question that human beings were wrestling with since then is: why do we have dreams and what, if anything, do they mean. On the one hand, there are a number of prominent scientists, such as Drs. Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley of Harvard University, who argue that we dream for physiological reasons only and that dreams are nothing more than “meaningless biology” lacking any psychological content. The opposing view comes from a large number of psychoanalysts that follow Freudian thought. They believe that we dream for psychological reasons and that any dream can and should be interpreted because it is a road to our unconsciousness. Following Sir Richard Burton’s observation that “truth is the shattered mirror strown in myriad bits; while each believes his little bit the whole to own,” I will take a middle ground position in regards to current dream theories. This position recognizes that dreams might have physiological determinants, as well as psychological ones (3). Such an approach lets one explore the problem from more that one angle, thereby allowing a more “truthful” synthesis of the various pieces of our current knowledge of dreams. Before examining any dream theories, we must have some knowledge of the nature of dreams and of t...

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7)Conscious and pre-conscious processes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=7501136&form=6&db=m&Dopt=b

8)Function of REM and NREM

http://ipp01.sawka.com/spiritwatch/function.htm

9)REM sleep

http://www.medfak.uu.se/fysiologi/Lectures/REMSleep.html

10)Freud: “Introductory lectures on psycho-analysis” , Reference #2 within Dreaming: Function and Meaning

http://www.lucidity.com/LD8DFM.html

11)Dream Dialogue , Reference #7 within Dreaming: Function and Meaning

http://www.lucidity.com/LD8DFM.html

12)Why is Dream Forgetting Common?

http://ipp01.sawka.com/spiritwatch/whyis.htm

13)From Genomes to Dreams

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/gen_beh/Dreams.html

14)What is a Lucid Dream?

http://www.metro.net/anvil/lwhatis.html

15)Lucid Dreaming Proof

http://ipp01.sawka.com/spiritwatch/lucidpf.htm

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