What physicians need to know about dreams and dreaming.
Current opinion in pulmonary medicine November 1, 2012 James F Pagel
Dream science remains poorly understood despite extensive study. Older research suffered from methodological problems such as unclear definitions, small sample sizes, and theoretical biases, and evidence is equivocal about whether rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and dreaming have a special relationship. Because the link between REM sleep and dreaming is poorly defined, evidence-based studies require a dream report. Dreaming can be studied through recall frequency, content, effects on waking behavior, associated medications, and pathophysiology. From behavioral, neuroanatomical, neurochemical, pathophysiological, and electrophysiological perspectives, dreaming is a complex cognitive state influenced by medical, psychological, sleep, and social variables.