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Sleep and Dreams

People sleep and dream all the time, but somehow it continues to be a topic humans

have limited knowledge on. In an attempt to understand why, many theories and speculations

with evidence have been up for discussion. Scientists have made discoveries to understand

what the brain does while humans sleep, and about common sleep disorders. Scientists have

also learned about how dreams and sleep patterns are constantly changing based on our daily

surroundings, and sometimes this affects the rest of the body in a negative way. However,

limited research has created a lot of unanswered questions when it comes to our brain activity

during sleep. Although the hard research hasn’t stopped scientists in discovering more and

more every day about this important part of survival.

One aspect of sleep that scientists can analyze is the brain activity of the sleeping

person. There are five stages that the brain goes

through during sleep. First, the sleeper experiences

Light Sleep with slow eye movements, which only

takes up about 5% of the average night’s sleep.

The next stage is normally close to 50% of our

sleep; this stage is where brain waves become

slower and there is no eye movement. This stage is

also known as Non-REM sleep. The third stage is known as Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) because

our brain waves become extremely slow, and it can be difficult to wake the sleeper up. This

stage also takes a small amount of the night at about 5%. The Deep Sleep stage uses 12-15%

of sleep, and the sleeper has no movement and can be disoriented when awakened. The last

stage is known as Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. This stage is about 20-25% of the
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average night’s sleep and it is also where most dreams occur. These five stages occur in a full

night’s sleep, but are commonly interrupted due to alarm clocks (Nichols).

Dreams, realistic visions, have been around for as long as sleep has, and sometimes

they can be common or completely individual. Though scientists don’t know the exact

cause/purpose of dreams, there are many theories. Several studies have been performed

based on how our daily life can affect the context and vividness of our dreams. Although

research is difficult when it comes to dreams because they are often not all remembered or

researchers could be told inaccurate data. Further experiments on dreams could help us

analyze and potentially control them.

Despite the human body “shutting down” during sleep, the brain will sometimes do the

opposite. In fact, some genes associated with metabolism and restoration in the brain only

become active when asleep (“Trouble”). There is also a “wake gauge” caused by adenosine in

our brains that tells us when to sleep. It starts making feelings of tiredness after being awake for

14 hours and increases the longer they’re awake. Caffeine can be used to counteract the

effects, such as lack of energy, from the chemical adenosine (Groopman). Overall the brain is

incredibly active while sleeping. Lucid dreams are dreams where the dreamer understands they

are asleep, and can control its context. While lucid dreaming, people have similar brain activity

to when they are awake (Wenk). Similar research has been conducted on animals, but studying

their dreams is impossible because animals can’t

talk about them (“Dreams”). However, scientists

have analyzed their brains; some species slept

similar to humans, but some species slept by

splitting their brain hemispheres. Species like fish

need to use their body while resting in order to stay

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alive, so one hemisphere will show slow brain waves while the other stays active and visa versa

(Gokalp).

Bad sleep can create bad health effects on the rest of the body. Sleep loss has become

a more relevant problem in the recent years, and with it has come health related problems. For

example, nausea, obesity, depression, sleep disorders and heart disease all increase in those

with sleep deprivation (“Nightmares”). Normally, doctors fix these health issues with

prescriptions, and entrepreneurs fix them with sleep products (memory foam bed, candles,

pillows, etc.). However, more research will promote more permanent solutions for the many who

suffer with sleep disorders.

Before recent discoveries, humans had many false theories about sleep and dreams.

For example, in the 1990’s people believed toxins caused sleep and could be the reason for

realistic dreams (Gokalp). Even the Bible brought up the “divine visions” that we now call

dreams, and in the 19th century people believed they were repressed conflicts. It was the

Greeks that believed dreams came from natural resources and they were the closest to current

day theories (“Dreams”). Overall, there are four main theories of why humans need sleep:

memory processing, default simulation, reflection on mental function, and preparation for

potential threats (Nichols). However, doctors aren’t always taught much about sleep and its

importance; if anything, they are normally taught the brain functions and not health effects

(Groopman). Scientists wonder how sleep evolved because the older living conditions would put

humans in danger during sleep. Questions like these are why more data needs to be collected,

and also because future corrections may need to be made.

Since industrialization humans have made new discoveries, and have identified new

sleep disorders or causes of sleep deprivation. In this time of success and money, it is common

to overlook your need for a good night’s sleep. Humans’ rest is being constantly interrupted with
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the busyness of their lives’ daily schedule. Learning more about sleep is a necessity. More and

more people get sleep deprived every year, and sleep disorders have become more common

too. In fact, 1 in 3 people will have a sleep disorder; this could mean overall health decline for

one third of the population (“Trouble”).

Sometimes factors in a person’s life will change the context of their dreams. On the other

hand, some people have the ability to lucid dream. These dreams also can occur for many

reasons, and many factors can cause changes to our dreams. For example, some have claimed

that they can increase the chances of lucid dreaming. However, almost all dreams have causes:

unconscious desires, psychotherapy, sexual relations, embarrassment, and repressed

memories are common relating themes. Analyzing dreams is very difficult because the subject

must remember and describe their dreaming experiences (Nichols). In the near future,

technological improvements will help analyze dreams while they happen.

The causes for bad dreams can be more specific, such as; stress, fear, illness, trauma,

and medications (Nichols). Nightmares are experienced at least once by most people; they’re

realistic, scary, and disturbing. These dreams occur during REM sleep, which explains why they

can be so vivid, and it is very rare for adults to have frequent nightmares. However, there are

some sleep disorders like night terrors (unrecallable nightmares) and REM behavior disorder

(dreams of being chased or attacked) that can cause bad dreams. Sometimes the decreased

quality of sleep will have negative effects. Outside of those cases they can be caused by as little

as caffeine, sleep deprivation, medication, and family nightmare history. Also, sleep disorders,

PTSD, nicotine, withdrawal, and unhealthy mental state increase chances of bad dreams.

Themes commonly experienced in these dreams include: recurring memories, running away,

and falling (“Nightmares”). I have struggled with frequent nightmares, and it causes me to get

sick incredibly easily. I have talked to several doctors and neurologists because of the decline in
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my overall health. They prescribe me medications, but they’re expensive and sometimes aren’t

enough depending on the patient. Nightmares and other sleep disorders are becoming more

common over time, and deeper research needs to continue to help those who suffer.

The ordinary amount of sleep loss has been increasing, and with it so has its negative

health effects. Three strong theories on why humans need to sleep include: restoration of the

body, energy conservation, and processing/memory consolidation. Despite which theory is

considered correct, rest is undeniably connected to health. Sleep loss can cause; a

worsened/new mental illness, increased stress, increased chance of illness, and increased drug

use. Constantly ignoring sleep’s importance causes 100,000 car accidents related to tiredness

on average every year in the USA, and 31% of people fall asleep at least once (Foster). The

vitality of sleep alone should motivate doctors to make learning about sleep a priority.

Sleep is necessary to keeping a person’s body healthy and operating properly, but sleep

disorders increase the chances of the person to be affected. When they visit a doctor about their

sleep they are normally met with very expensive solutions. These “solutions” are commonly

medications or special sleep products. They are several sleep disorders and they affect it in a

different way. Narcolepsy causes uncontrollable sleepiness during the day, but give the patient

appropriate rest. Other sleep disorders like night terrors and REM behavior disorder are

previously mentioned to cause a bad quality of sleep. Another common sleep disorder is sleep

apnea, which can cause people trouble breathing in their sleep, and ultimately death (“Trouble”).

Similar to sleep apnea is Pickwickian Syndrome which causes red face, lack of oxygen, and

constant falling asleep; however, it is normally caused by being overweight. Another sleep

disorder is restless leg; it is caused by certain vitamin deficiencies, and the person’s lower limbs

move and cramp (Groopman). Disorders like these are greatly affecting those who have them,

and they should be treated as serious diseases. Problems regarding sleep have become a huge
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issue in the recent years, and doctors and researchers should be trying to improve citizens’

health.

However, America has made a lot of revenue from bad sleep, showing the profitable side

of this problem. When someone suffers with sleep, they are expected to afford temporary

solutions to help. Money is constantly made off of products like sleep aid/medications, smart

pillows, weighted blankets, caffeine, memory foam mattresses, and outrageous electronics

(Groopman). There have been theories that the U.S. doesn’t encourage sleep research, so they

can continue collecting money. There is no evidence to support this theory, but either way I

think further research is a necessity.

Scientists have been able to figure out a surprising amount about sleep, but there is still

a lot we don’t know. That lack of knowledge greatly affects students my age. Sleep loss is

incredibly common during high school, and this ultimately leads to more absences as the

students’ health declines. I have enjoyed discovering more about sleep because I have

struggled with sleep issues myself, but I would still like to understand more about dreams.

Through this paper I learned a lot, but mostly how badly more research needs to be done.
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“Dreams and Sleep.” ​National Sleep Foundation​,

www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/dream-and-sleep.

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Gokalp, Gokce. “Sleep and Dreams.” ​California State University, Northridge,​

www.csun.edu/~vcpsy00h/students/dreams.htm.

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International, 28 June 2018, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/284378.php.

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“Trouble Sleeping? You Could Have These Sleep Disorders and Not Even Know It.” ​WWL,​
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rs-and-not-even-know-it/289-612922453.

“Nightmares in Adults.” ​WebMD,​ WebMD,

www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/nightmares-in-adults#1.

Wenk, Gary L. “Sleep and Dreams.” ​Psychology Today,​ Sussex Publishers, 7 Feb. 2011,
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-brain-food/201102/sleep-and-dreams.