How Dreaming and REM Sleep Affect Body and Mind

What Is Dreaming?

Dreaming is one of the natural phenomena that human beings experience during sleep. This natural process is not constrained to any particular characteristic; people of all cultural backgrounds, age groups, and social circumstances dream throughout their entire lives. Since dreaming is linked to the mind and soul, it is generally held that people will continue to dream for as long as they are alive (Hobson, 2004).

Dreaming is an entire chain and cycle of metaphors, feelings, sensations, and insights that form a narrative while a person is asleep. Because dreams do not follow a single pattern, they can be peaceful, thrilling, realistic, frightening, chaotic, or implausible. During the phenomenon of dreaming, a person may encounter visions of people, houses, and places — such as cities, hills, and rivers — including things the individual has never seen in real life (Hobson, 2004).

A dream can last from a few seconds to several minutes, and a person may dream up to ten times or more in a single night. Notably, more than 85 percent of dreams are not recalled by the individual once they wake (Hobson, 2004).

The meaning and message of dreams cannot be easily interpreted by every individual, as not everyone possesses the awareness or self-knowledge required to perceive the visions clearly. The subconscious fears and desires of a person are key components that drive dream analysis and interpretation. Whether a person remembers a dream depends significantly on the circumstances of their sleep and the manner in which they wake (Hobson, 2004).

The sleeping process and dreaming have a direct relationship to the quality of waking life, encompassing intellectual sharpness, productivity, creativity, emotional stability, physical strength, and even body weight. Numerous research investigations — predominantly using primary research methods — have provided substantial information about how dreaming and the lack of dreaming affect overall body functioning.

Physiological Changes During REM Sleep

According to research, a person typically enters the dreaming phase approximately ninety minutes after falling asleep. Studies have found that a person undergoes various physiological changes upon entering this phase. Rapid eye movement (REM) is one of the most widely observed changes among people entering the dreaming state (Harvard Health Publications, 2012).

Breathing speed also increases during dreaming compared to normal resting levels. Dreams similarly affect body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, all of which rise from their resting levels during the dreaming phase. It has also been observed that the muscles of the arms and legs become temporarily inactive during dreaming (Harvard Health Publications, 2012).

The brain is also profoundly affected by REM sleep. During this phase, the brain dominates memory and learning processes in a positive way. REM sleep functions as a platform on which the brain is, in effect, refreshed — blending and processing the knowledge and information acquired throughout the day, strengthening memory, and generating elements that can boost mood during waking hours (Harvard Health Publications, 2012).

Dreams, Memory, and Learning

Empirical research has highlighted that memory is likely to be bolstered and strengthened when a person obtains adequate REM sleep and dreaming. Although the precise connection between sleep, dreaming, and body functioning has not been fully explained, researchers have provided evidence that even while the body is in a completely relaxed state, the brain continuously processes and integrates memories during sleep (Wilson, 2011).

During REM sleep, the intellect creates links between the events of the day, feelings and emotions, and stored memories. The REM phase is especially significant because this is when the brain forms the memory connections that help an individual recall and remember information more effectively (Wilson, 2011).

Research has also shown that people who obtain sufficient REM sleep and dreaming not only experience strengthened memory but are more likely to feel energized, alert, and attentive during waking hours. This heightened energy enables more active engagement in daytime activities, and a positive mood and behavior emerge as natural responses in well-rested individuals (Wilson, 2011).

Dreaming and REM sleep play a vital role in the development of the brain and intellect by providing influential stimulation. REM sleep also supports the growth and maturation of the nervous system (Serendip, 2008). Scientists have established that a connection between dreaming and learning exists, because new information acquired during the day is consolidated and matured while a person dreams, as the brain is more active at that time. This leads to the conclusion that REM sleep supports both memory consolidation and the learning process (Serendip, 2008).

Not only does dreaming mature the memory consolidation and learning process, but a person's ability to recall information is also greatly facilitated. High concentration, which is required for effective learning, can only be sustained through adequate REM sleep. Evidence from multiple research studies supports the finding that progress in learning is linked to sufficient REM sleep and dreaming. Critically, REM sleep deprivation severely impairs the ability to learn (Serendip, 2008).

Some researchers regard REM sleep as a remarkable regulatory mechanism. According to certain perspectives, an appropriate amount of REM sleep and dreaming supports emotional repair, while excessive REM sleep can produce counterproductive results. Research indicates that under normal circumstances, people forget most of their dreams because those dreams symbolize unfulfilled aspects of their lives (Pagel, 2008). However, research also demonstrates that people with longer periods of REM sleep are often those who experience distress and anxiety during waking hours. Their emotional instability produces more intense dreams during REM sleep, continuing until the brain becomes exhausted — a state that ultimately manifests in distressed behavior (Pagel, 2008).

Conclusion

The overall findings of numerous research sources clearly demonstrate that dreaming and the lack of dreaming have a direct correlation to overall body functioning. The areas of the brain used for learning and memory are largely stimulated by REM sleep and dreaming, which enhances individual performance. The sleep and dreaming phenomenon elevates the process of protein synthesis, which revives brain functioning.

The dreams and REM sleeping phase constitute a major source of influence on the emotions, moods, behaviors, and decisions of individuals in their daily lives. Because REM sleep activates the brain and intellect extensively — consolidating all information learned during the day — the events and experiences of waking life leave a profound imprint on what a person dreams, ultimately affecting body functioning in both positive and negative ways.

Considering the adverse side of dreaming deprivation: the immune system is weakened by lack of REM sleep as essential blood cells decrease, vital hormones are disrupted, and blood sugar is converted into unnecessary fats. Common physiological effects of REM sleep deprivation documented across multiple studies include muscle pain, headaches, memory loss, depression, hallucinations, bloodshot eyes, elevated blood pressure, increased stress hormone levels, heightened risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and mental illness, obesity, and persistent fatigue, among others.

Brain and cognitive functions are also adversely affected by the lack of dreaming and REM sleep. Deprivation has been observed to dysregulate the body's responses to stress and to impair essential functions such as digestion, immune response, and mood regulation.

The effects of dreaming on overall body functioning are experienced by the individual in a manner similar to real-life events — a finding supported by numerous studies. In summary, dreams are psychological experiences created by the mind during sleep, and the quality of sleep shapes what a person visualizes in their dreams. Those dreams, in turn, affect waking life — influencing mental capability, physical energy, appetite, body weight, sensations, emotional balance, creativity, and overall efficiency. The brain and behavior have a direct and unique relationship to sleep and dreaming, such that behavioral patterns deteriorate as the brain is impaired by insufficient sleep and dream.

References

Coon, D., & Mitterer, J. O. (2008). Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior (12th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Harvard Health Publications. (2012). Understanding sleep: Body clock and sleep cycles. HELPGUIDE.ORG.

Harvard Medical School. (2007). Sleep, learning, and memory. Healthy Sleep.

Hobson, A. J. (2004). Dreaming: An Introduction to the Science of Sleep (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Lippman, A. (2003). The roles of NREM and REM sleep on memory consolidation. Serendip Studio.

McNamara, P. (2011). The impact of dreams on your social life. Psychology Today.

Pagel, J. F. (2008). The Limits of Dream: A Scientific Exploration of the Mind/Brain Interface (1st ed.). Academic Press.

Russell, R. (2004). Focusing the Whole Brain: Transforming Your Life with Hemispheric Synchronization. Hampton Roads Publishing.

Serendip. (2008). The effects of sleep deprivation on brain and behavior. Serendip Studio.

Wilson, D. (2011). Total Mind Power: How to Use the Other 90% of Your Mind. iUniverse.