• Question: Why do we dream?

    Asked by Maya Cove to Aaron, Abbey, Keith, Natalie, Pete on 16 Nov 2015. This question was also asked by J-Dog, wiktor_wochna.
    • Photo: Aaron Boardley

      Aaron Boardley answered on 16 Nov 2015:

      There are different theories about why we dream – to sort out our moods or to make connections between our thoughts. They have even just be random thoughts, to serve no practical purpose. It’s the work of psychologists to look at and test these theories, as they look at how the mind works and links with our behaviour.

      On a deeper level, it can be worth looking at what the brain does during dreams – how different areas work and communicate with each other. Studying these things have helped shape theories that dream help us sort out our memories. Studying the way the brain works is the job of neurologists.

    • Photo: Natalie Garrett

      Natalie Garrett answered on 20 Nov 2015:

      Bearing in mind that this isn’t my field of research: I’ve read that nobody knows the answer to this for sure. It’s clear that when we’re in REM sleep, our brains are very active. Some people think that dreams are our brain’s way of understanding and processing what we have done during the day, or anticipating and preparing for future scenarios. Some people think they don’t dream at all, but in all likelihood they do, but they don’t remember them when they wake up.

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