Dreaming conundrum

Dreaming is an involuntary cognitive process that occurs during sleep. While dreams have been studied since ancient times and became important in psychoanalysis, scientific research accelerated after the discovery of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in the 1950s. This review brings together current findings on the neurobiological and psychological aspects of dreaming, covering what affects dream recall and content, the brain activity associated with dreaming, experimental models used to study dreams, and what these insights mean for clinical practice.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Dreaming, a common yet mysterious cognitive phenomenon, is an involuntary process experienced by individuals during sleep. Although the fascination with dreams dates back to ancient times and gained therapeutic significance through psychoanalysis in the early twentieth century, its scientific investigation only gained momentum with the discovery of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in the 1950s. This review synthesises current research on the neurobiological and psychological aspects of dreaming, including factors influencing dream recall and content, neurophysiological correlates, and experimental models, and discusses the implications for clinical practice.