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Abstract

Since possibly the beginning of mankind, humans have dreamt during

the time of sleep. Researchers have argued over the possibility of dreams

being real or not. Brain activity has much to do with REM sleep, or when

dreaming occurs during deep sleep because of certain parts of the brain

activating. Memories or events that suddenly occur during the day may pop

into dreams to make a visit that work along with active imagination.

This essay includes the arguments proposed by researchers for and

against the possibility of dreams happening in real life; it is the question that

holds curiosity in everyones mind. Dreams are such a complex theory, that

it is difficult to get an accurate and official study since multiple dreams are

often hard to recall. As this research pulls bits of parts from here and there

to evidently compose a structured paper, light is shed on the meaning of

dreams.

The paranormal is always a topic that is mysterious; so in theory dreams

can be categorized as mysterious since the topic has never been proven to

exist in another dimension. Memories playing during REM (rapid eye

movement) are a factor of dreaming, considering the arguments for dreams

being real and most of the arguments against agree upon this opinion.

Although we have modern technology compared to when the idea of dreams

first came along, testing them is still a blurry subject.

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Historical Context

Throughout the early years, around 3000 B.C., different societies have

recorded dreams but they could never tell the difference between what was

real and what was actually occurring during the day. Considered spiritual

and religious in many cases, dreams were and still are seen as messages

from the gods or from the dead. Philosophers such as the Greeks believed

that dreams can diagnose sickness or disease and even the future.

Later they were seen as temptation by the devil himself. The Middle

Ages they were thought to believe the devil leads us to the wrong path while

dreaming. Similarly to the Chinese, who to this day refuse to have an alarm

clock, since they believe souls leave the body during sleep; if they were

suddenly awakened their soul might fail to return.

Fast forwarding into the late 19th century, dreaming was seen as an

effect of anxiety, or caused by a noise near the deep sleeper. Sigmund

Freud later put the inaccurate ideas to sleep when he revolutionized the

study of dreams. His finding were concluded with dreams being seen as

some form of wish fulfillment, since it attempts to fix problems that are

apart of reality. For the first time the study revealed that unconscious minds

connect with the conscious in order to perform clearly. Half a century later,

Nathanial Klietman and his, also popular, findings concluded with rapid eye

movement (REM) under the eyelids. Adding to REM sleep Klietman came

across the theory of four sleeping stages.

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Each culture today has their different thoughts and theories on

dreams, whether it is religious or thought as self-expression. For example,

Greeks would go into incubators, such as a sacred place, to dream and

manipulate summiting dreams. Another belief of South Asian Hindus, is that

this world is actually a dream and the real reality is somewhere else which

corresponds to the theory of two worlds, the Dreamworld and the real. Along

with that, the Hindus think that they will one day be reincarnated back into

the world to find their final peace. Further impact of dreams has justified the

planet Neptunes name which represents the depths of the unconscious and

our emotional levels in dream imagery, places that our dreams take us. It is

common to dream at any age whether it is manipulated or not.

Most adults dream about one and a half to three hours a night out of a

normal eight hours. The most detailed dreaming happens during REM sleep

since it is the deepest sleep. During REM sleep eye movements correspond

to the way or actions happening in the bizarre dream. It is expected that

people dream a total of six hours in an average lifetime. Many people have

dreams of falling to their doom, which can be reported in Stage 1 of sleeping.

The heart rate decreases to a rate of still being live but near death.
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Findings

How do memories and messages through the mind get involved?

Replaying memories and receiving messages while dreaming have been

seen as common. Acting in dreams such as lucid dreaming has been quite a

concept to some doctors. In the scholarly book Lucid Dreaming, Stephen

LaBerge and his team claim we may be dreaming at a point then become

conscious to know we are dreaming. He and his team give research

evidence and statistics on the population of people that have lucid dreams to

support its persons ideas creating the scene. The authors connect their

research along with others in order to come to scientific conclusions about

what actually happens during REM. Considering the informative tone, the

researchers and scientists theories are set for the public to be informed of

what they might have experienced. LaBerge seems to believe that

theoreticians have considered [lucid dreaming] impossible and even

absurd (LaBerge). He states facts such as evidence in the late 1970s

suggesting that lucid dreams occur during REM sleep (LaBerge). LaBerge

also defines lucid dreaming as we are dreaming while we are dreaming, at

times a remarkable exception occurs, and we become conscious enough to

realize that we are dreaming (LaBerge). In the book True Tales of the

Paranormal: Hauntings, Poltergeists, Near-death Experiences, and Other

Mysterious Events (2008), Kimberly Molto, a research scientist, claims we

ourselves give messages through dreams and depending how we interpret it

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we act. Molto uses her own research to simply explain the processes,

especially lucid dreaming. The author provides a range of anecdotes

personal and from other scientists in order to conclude her research on the

topic of dreams being a part of paranormal activity. Considering the spooky

and conversational tone, her intended audience seems to be those who

arent afraid of being a little frightened by the connections she has made.

She connects the facts with the experience that Sarah in her dreams was

familiar to her own experiences (Molto 39). She believes that dreams in

which your inner self is trying to message is definitely paranormal activity

(Molto 190). All dreams tend to have the people, places and events in our

lives (Molto 39). With lucid dreaming many questions rise such as: are our

minds during sleep wandering through our memories to present images? In

the scholarly web article, Dreaming as mind wandering: Evidence from

Functional Neuroimaging and First-Person Content Reports (2013), Kieran

Fox leads his team of professors claim that dreams are important as well as

mind wandering which are caused by memory and the tendency to relate

things to ones self. Fox and the team cite their own experiments and

findings as a source of credibleness. The authors provide explanations of

REM sleep and mind wandering in order to inform readers that memories and

mind wandering are very much connected and affect each other.

Considering the dense and informational tone, Fox and the teams audience

seems to be readers that would like to be informed on the similarities and

differences of mind wandering and dreaming. Fox and the team address that
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both daydreaming and dreaming may engage similar brain mechanisms

that trigger scenes in your mind (Fox and his team). They also state

dreaming can be understood as an intensified version of waking mind

wandering: through the two share many similarities to set the article up for

comparison (Fox and his team). They concluded that dreaming amplifies the

same features that distinguish mind wandering from goal-directed waking

thought (Fox and his team). You may ask how dreaming comes to be.

Revonoso explains the brain mechanics further into detail. In the scholarly

web article, "The Reinterpretation of Dreams: An Evolutionary Hypothesis of

the Function of Dreaming Behavioral and Brain Sciences" (2001), Antti

Revonsuo claims that dreams are not random but organized and selective.

Revonsuo cites the common theory of dreaming being a random product of

REM sleep just to shoot it down with his opinion giving more controversy of

the conflict. The author explains how the brain works during the dreaming

process in order to inform how certain aspects that involves dreaming come

to be. Considering the fun conversation-like tone, Revonsuos targeted

audience seems to be people who are curious of the way dreaming occurs

and how its related to the brain. Revonsuos opinion is that the form and

content of dreams is not random but organized and selective (Revonsuo).

Dream content occurs when certain types of waking experiences are

powerful (Revonsuo). He hypothesizes that biological function of dreaming

is to simulate threatening events and to rehearse threat perception

(Revonsuo). Another source such as the article Dream Reality (2007-

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2011), Real Meaning of Dreams claims that our brains are selectively

reactivated when we actually dream. They quote William Dement, a sleep

researcher and founder of Stanford Sleep Research Center to prove their

theory that the brain is in charge of creating a reality when it is activated.

Real Meaning of Dreams suggests that our brain is in control of our thoughts

and dreams in order to show that our dreams are being manipulated and

only a thought. People who are concerned of the way the brain is working

during sleep should look into this give them more knowledge with the

informational tone. They quote Dement by mentioning we experience a

dream as real because it is real (Real Meaning of Dreams). We now know

that as we start to dream the brain becomes reactivated and our

imagination activates as well (Real Meaning of Dreams). Dreams feel so real

because the main part of the brain is deactivated while we dream (Real

Meaning of Dreams). Brain activity associates with the senses while

dreaming. In the article, Are Dreams an Extension of Physical Reality?

(2010), scientist and author Robert Lanza claims that we dismiss claims as

unreal. Lanza uses other critics opinions and uses the closest thing we can

compare to a dream, a two whole experiment, that particles going through

waves. He cites this experiment in order to prove during the process of

dreaming we go through the same bio-physical process as when we are

awake proving what we think and feel while we dream is different in a reality.

Considering the conversational tone the author uses, his audience is people

who are interested in knowing if we are in fact sensing what we dream.

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Lanza says we are actually feeling and experience sensations in a 3D world

while dreaming (Lanza). We are used to dismissing dreams because they

are associated with brain activity during sleep (Lanza). This reality is a

process that involves our consciousness (Lanza). This explains why it is

possible to feel like falling off a cliff while only dreaming.

Are dreams a reality?

Lucid dreaming may have explained why dreams can occur and be

adjusted to the way it is most exciting to experience and brain mechanics

might have served to inform why dreams feel real, but are dreams real?

Shocking results of studies that have caused speculation includes the web

article, Dreams are Real, Say Scientists (2013), The Civilian published the

claim that dreams have taken place in an alternate universe and they are

indeed real. The Civilian cites Bostons Harvard Medical Schools study on

participants sleeping in different stages. Scientists conducting the study

asked participants to bring objects from the dream back to reality in order to

prove there is another world. Scientist Kevin McCaffrey believes this

Dreamland is real since items have been retrieved, this discovery is ground

breaking considering nobody else has conducted this before in which they

portray as conversational in the article; the audience is targeted to people

who need to be warned that next time they have dream of forgetting their
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pants its real. This can be compared to the findings in Figure 1.

(Figure 1)
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They also state the universe can only be accessed during certain stages

(The Civilian). The author claims we need to find a new term for real

worlddream world is just as real justifying that dreams in a sense are real

(The Civilian). The research concluded with Dreamland is a very real place

(The Civilian). Can superpowers be possible in this so-called Dreamland?

True powers being possessed in dreams are a part of a cultures beliefs. In

her non-fiction book Dreams, Illusion, and Other Realities (1984), American

Indologist Wendy Doniger claims people see real and the unreal when

dreaming which reveals the true power a person possesses. Doniger

elaborates her idea of dreams associated with the Indian culture. The author

cites other Indian philosophers ideas on how dreaming is more real than

being awake, in order to persuade readers that based on Indian religion and

culture dreams are real. Donigers philosophical tone suggests that the

audience appears to be in doubt of the strange dreams that may seem so

real in the moment since they turn out to be. Doniger addresses that as a

child we believe dreams are real and society forces us to give that up, and

turns to myths which shouldnt determine what we think (Doniger 18). The

author suggests that nobody knows which half of the dream/waking

experience is more real since they are both in a reality (Doniger 4). Indians

have believed dreams are real because a man bitten by an imaginary snake

can die from imaginary venom (Doniger 285). A related belief is pointed to

the Bible. To find the answers we turn to the book A Sense of the

Supernatural: Interpretation of Dreams and Paranormal Experiences: A

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Selection of Personal Response (2008), Yitshak Ginzburg who has written

over forty books dealing with psychology and education claims our soul

rises to higher realms of consciousness rather than those which capable

while awake. Ginzburg cites the Bible as a source of credibility, the scared

history of the Jewish nation, and studies which have been associated God

reaching out to us through paranormal senses which can occur in dreams.

The author provides explanations and the meanings of the different stages of

dreaming in order to inform readers which dreams would most likely come

true. Considering the informational and conversational tone, Ginzburgs

audience seems to be those who may want to get information on how to

dream and receive a paranormal experience with The Creator. Ginzburg

addresses the basic teaches of Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic

movement, which he restates saying, we are constantly being addressed by

God through both our normal and paranormal senses (Ginzburg 15). He

also states that our soul rises to higher realms of consciousness which then

explains why we may sometimes meet deceased souls in our dreams

(Ginzburg 142). The most important or most meaningful dreams may be

from which one awakens in the morning and possibly most likely to come

true (Ginzburg 131). A philosophical take on the subject of question is

presented by Fred Alan Wolf in his scholarly article The Dreaming Universe

(2008) claiming that dreaming can unlock evolving life forms. Wolf discusses

with other writers the hypothesis he has carried with him through many of

his books. The writer provides an argument against a scientist being that he
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is a physicist, explains a background of dreaming history, and supports the

fact of self-awareness of your true inner-self along with dreaming while we in

fact are the dream in order to persuade readers we are a part of a Great

Spirit. Considering the persuasive tone, Wolf is approaching the audience

with convincing self-awareness point of view of the ways we are living a

dream. Wolf ponders how we are the dreamer and the dream at the same

time meaning we are literally living the dream (Wolf). Another surprising

point he declares is that matter evolves into the forms of life through

dreaming (Wolf). He includes the purpose of dreaming which is to develop

this self-awareness (Wolf).

Why are dreams not real?

Even though studies have been performed, how is it possible to record

accurate information? In the podcast The Dream Debate (2006), Professor

of Psychiatry at Harvard, J. Allan Hobson opposes Freuds 150th year claim on

dreams being real. Hobson clearly says it is an untestable theory that

cannot be proven. The opponent provides a range of evidence in order to

prove that we simply cannot collect dreams to make comparisons on how

they are real. Listening to his persuasive argument, his tone seems to be

informative and his idea is focused on claiming Freud had antique

neurologist thinking to inform his audience of these false accusations. His

research into Freud has concluded with saying nobody had a true tested

hypothesis (Hobson). Hobson adds dreams are wishes creating a thought

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that is not real (Hobson). Should we the listeners believe we should reject

[the theory] since its not scientific (Hobson).

Dreams connect the memories of the previous to the new to create a new

reality that is false because it is only thought of by imagination. The article

The Facts about Dreams (2014), Kristyn Lewis asserts dreams may be

more than just random brain patterns. Lewis supports her claim by defining

and citing sources such as Dr. Cartwright, which was a founder of the Sleep

Disorder Service, and had found that dreams link old events to new ones.

She cites this doctor and many more in order to prove the images during the

dreaming process is from the past. Lewiss casual tone targets a wide range

of people who are seeking what and why we dream to serve curiosity. Once

we have experience in something, dreams link new events to old ones

(Lewis). As an example she says, If you are feeling anxious.you may

dream of another time you were anxious (Lewis). She also tells us what

happens when we dream, flashes of thoughts and images from your waking

life (Lewis). To some dreams maybe an illness since it cannot be proven or

just imagination taking its toll. In the non-fiction book Dreams and Destinies:

The Mysteries of your Dreams Explained (1995) Beryl Beare claims that

different dreamers hold a significant value in the images received. Beare

cities a variety of scientists and experts that support her claim and also

include that dreams maybe a mental illness or a neurotic symptom. The

author provides explanations of the process of dreaming in order to show the

readers that we most likely wouldn't know if we did dream because we are
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unable to move or call out. Considering the informative tone, Beares

audience seems to be those who maybe wanting to be informed on the

science behind dreams mean to experts. Professionals discussed the Fredian

theory and how it claims if we all dream, then dreams cannot be regarded

as a neurotic system (Beare 29). During sleep Beare tells us that sleep is

immobile and muscles are limp so we are conscious. We are in our most

important sleep during REM stage our most vivid and important dreams

usually occurs in the morning, just before we wake up (Beare 28). Once

again dreams arent looked at as a real experience. According to the book,

True Paranormal Experiences: Things That Go Bump in the Night (2012),

Mirian Detres claims that not every dream is categorized as a dream.

Detres cites herself as a credible source since she has a PhD and is a Medium

with a variety of personal experiences also along with other stories. The

author provides explanations of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) being the level

of occurrence of dreams in order to express the fact that dreams are time for

relaxation. Considering the very informational tone, Detress audience

seems to be those that may have an interest in the way dreams have

different meanings. Detres states that she has dreams and prophesies

meaning that there is a difference between the illusions that occur during

sleep (Detres 76). Another anecdote she offers is an adulthood dream that

she recalls has happened and increasing in reality was [her] dreams

(Detres 83). She also connects the fact that she sees ghosts but actually

were not dreams since she would of felt them (Detres 77). Does this mean
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that it is all just imagination playing a role? According to Figure 2 less than

half of the surveyors responses were in agreement that dreams are just a

part of your imagination.

(Figure 2)

Real life and being able to connect the past with the present by finding the

solution to problems is not a part of another reality. It is simply remembering

a dilemma. In the news article "Why We Dream: Real Reasons Revealed"

(2010), Rachael Rettner claims dreaming itself may be to help us find

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solutions to puzzles that plague us during waking hours. The author cites a

psychologists work and her theory in which was discussed at a meeting a

month before the article was published. Rettner backs up her claim by

stating that dreams are visual and unnatural in order to teach people about

Barretts theory she supports. Considering the informational and opinionated

tone, the audience seems to be people who would like to be notified of

Harvard researchers latest opinions. According to Barretts theory

dreaming is really just thinking, but in a slightly different state from when

our eyes are open (Rettner). Theories before hadnt mentioned evolution

at all, or downright contradicted it (Rettner). Barrett then reinstates her

theory as dreams might have initially evolved for a different purpose, they

likely have been refined over time so they can serve double-duty: help the

brain reboot itself and problem-solve (Rettner). The evolution of dreams

has not included remembering most. Hardly any are remembered so is that

really deemed as a dream? In the news article What is Dreaming and

what does it Tell Us about Memory? (2014), Penelope Lewis claims dreams

are something that you have to remember and be aware of to some extent.

The author answers a variety of questions involving the topic with figures

and studies that includes statistics about dream reports. Lewis comments on

the dream-lag effect, which is basically remembering dreams at a later

time then you encountered them, in order to raise suspicion of when dreams

actually occurred or if it was a memory. Considering the very knowledgeable

and informative tone, the audience seems to be targeted at those who would
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like to know a different opinion of needing to remember dreams. Freud, a

famous researcher, Lewis cites, refers to dream residues as memories of

dreams (Lewis). Essentially, when memories which have been stored in the

neocortex are accessed or activated during REM, they remain fragmentary

instead of drawing in other aspects of the same memory has been a support

as to why memories are recalled at times (Lewis). Dreams are said to be

influencing the way you feel the next day, either in terms of mood or more

basic bodily states (Lewis). Answers by multiple experts are found in the

documentary What are Dreams, PBS partners with NOVA to bring us the

special in which claims dreams are processes which give insight to the world.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting host experts and many regular

people who have encountered strange dreams since they have a first-hand

experience as well as interpretations of studies. PBS interviews many

experts such as Dr. Robert Stickgold, as a main interviewee, in order to get

more of a perspective and an overall view of their theories combined.

Considering the informational and passionate tone, the documentary is

targeted at regular viewers and viewers who want answers from experts on

how their dreaming patterns were caused. When people are awake brain

activity seems to be normal and a simple wave, but when sleeping,

electrodes were placed on the head through the night that can pick up the

electrical activity underneath the signal looked very fast while normal

while sleeping brain activity slowed down and had more of a pattern

(Stickgold). Researchers need to measure many aspects such as the brain

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waves show us a different picture; they look different depending on the

different stages of sleep they are in (PBS). New research by J. Allen Hobson

has stressed a specific part of our brain stem triggers REM sleepdreams

are more physiological than psychological (Domhoff). So which side has the

facts?

Epilogue

All dreams have played a cultural and psychological belief throughout

mankind. It has somewhat evolved the thought that humans are able to

record history. It had been seen recorded before, but as time changed and
 Chavez 19

new technology is present to recording of dreams has been accurate.

Dreaming serves as more than a passage to human capability; it serves as

something that can possibly bring us together if the Dreamworld is true. It

would connect us as one since it is like traveling to another dimension in a

conscious mind but absent body.

The possibility of Dreamworld is interesting, but there is a lack of

evidence to convince, which is why I am not convinced based on the

research I have conducted. I headed into my research with an open mind to

the possibility of the many opinions convincing me that this compelling topic

is in fact real. No further research has been released relating to dreams

being real, but reviewing all of my sources in depth would be my next step

along with finding more evidence to why they are. Adding to my knowledge

about memories replaying during REM sleep I conclude there needs to be a

present day test.

Work Cited

Beare, Beryl. Dreams and Destinies.JP Press, Inc, 1995.Print.

Detres, Mirian. True Paranormal Experiences: Things That Go Bump in the

Night.

N.p.: AuthorHouse, 2012. Print.

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Doniger OFlaherty, Wendy. Dreams, Illusion, and Other Realities. University

of

Chicago Press Books, 1984.Print

"Dreams Are Real, Say Scientists." The Civilian. Harvard Medical School, 15

May

2013. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.

"Dream Reality." Why Do Dreams Seem so Real? realmeaningofdreams.com,

2007-2011. Web. 29 Jan. 2017.

Fox, Kieran C. R., Savannah Nijeboer, Elizaveta Solomonova, G. William

Domhoff,

and Kalina Christoff. "Dreaming as Mind Wandering: Evidence from

Functional Neuroimaging and First-person Content Reports." Frontiers.

Frontiers, 11 July 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2017.

Ginzburg, Yitshak. A Sense of the Supernatural: Interpretation of Dreams and

Paranormal Experiences: A Selection of Personal Response. Jerusalem:

Gal Einai, 2008. Print.

LaBerge, Stephen. Lucid Dreaming: Psychophysiological Studies of

Consciousness during REM Sleep. Lucipedia. The Lucidity Institute,10

Apr. 2007. Web. 15 Feb.2017

Lanza, Robert. "Are Dreams an Extension of Physical Reality?" Huffington

Post.

N.p., 16 Sept. 2010. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

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Lewis, Kristyn Kusek. "The Facts about Dreams." Real Simple. Real Simple, 29

Aug.

2014. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

Lewis, Penelope A. "What Is Dreaming and What Does It Tell Us about

Memory?

[Excerpt]." Scientific American. N.p., 18 July 2014. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.

Molto, Kimberly. True Tales of the Paranormal: Hauntings, Poltergeists, Near-

death Experiences, and Other Mysterious Events. Toronto: Dundurn,

2008. Print.

Polly, Richard. The Dream Debate. ABC Radio National. 2006. Podcast, 16

Sep. 2006

Rettner, Rachael. "Why We Dream: Real Reasons Revealed." LiveScience.

Purch,

27 June 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.

Revonsuo, Antti. "The Reinterpretation of Dreams: An Evolutionary

Hypothesis of

the Function of Dreaming Behavioral and Brain Sciences." Cambridge

Core. Cambridge University Press, 21 Sept. 2001. Web. 18 Mar. 2017.

What Are Dreams. Perf. Bob Stickgold. Pbs.org. PBS, n.d. Web. 29 Mar.

2017.

Wolf, Fred Alan. Psychological Perspectives the Dreaming Universe:

Psychological Perspectives: Vol.30, No.1.19 Jan. 2008 Web.

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