Theories Of Sleep And Dream Psychology

Sleep and Dream Psychology I was attacked by a cat last night. After waking up, I realized it was all a dream. We spend one-fifth of the time we are asleep dreaming (Fontana 14). Our body goes through 4 stages of sleep including REM (Rapid Eye Movement). Dreaming is very complex and there are many theories as to the psychology and physiology of dreams. According to David Fontana, while we are asleep we encounter five different stages/phases of sleep, which are determined by particular physiological activities and brain rhythms (14). When you first fall asleep, you slowly go down through the stages until you reach the fourth stage and spending a hour in that stage. After this you ascend back to stage one. This may happen because of a change

Short awakenings may disappear with amnesia (“Stages of Sleep”). Rapid Eye Movement (REM) was discovered in 1953, and was described to help learning and memory (“Stages of Sleep”). Time in REM sleep varies on age, most infants are in REM for 50 percent of the night (“Stages of Sleep”). Adults spend about 20 percent, older adults spend less time in REM sleep (“Stages of Sleep”). The effect of REM sleep on the body is larger than you think. In 1960, researchers REM deprivation appears to lead to day-time irritability, fatigue, memory loss, and poor concentration (Fontana 15; “Stages of

There is not an exact reason on why we dream although there are many theories, but studies show its importance to our health and well being. If you go to bed with a troubling thought or issue you may wake with a solution, or feel better about the situation (“Stages of Sleep”). Children and adults can experience nightmares during sleep (“Stages of Sleep”). There are several causes of nightmares including; stress, illness, trauma, etc (“Stages of Sleep”). Common sleep disorders are REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, Sleep Talking, and Sleepwalking. The Sleep Foundation states, “people who suffer from REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) act out their dreams.” “People physically move limbs or even get up and engage in activities associated with waking (“REM SBD Sleep Behavior Disorder”)” This has many other movements such as hitting or punching. “Sleep talking formally known as somniloquy, is a sleep disorder defined as talking during sleep without being aware of it. Sleep talking can involve complicated dialogues or monologues, complete gibberish or mumbling (“Sleeptalking”).” Those not typically aware of their behaviors or speech; “therefore their voices and the type of language they use may sound different from their wakeful speech