Sleep research
Otto M. Rheinschmiedt
March 29, 2018 DOI: 10.4324/9780429481789-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Key points | Argues that Freud's claim that dreams guard sleep is wrong and that the reverse holds: sleep is the guardian of dreams. Dream consciousness is described as using more energy than waking consciousness, requiring deep sleep to replenish reserves. The author proposes that dreams foster somatic and ontogenetic security and make unbearable emotions feel manageable and contained. |
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Abstract
One of Freud’s assumptions on dreaming, that “dreams are the guardians of sleep”, was proven wrong by sleep researchers. Freud’s notion was that one of the functions of dreaming is to preserve sleep. The researchers found the reverse to be true, namely that “sleep is the guardian of dreams”. Dream consciousness uses more energy than waking consciousness; it uses so much energy that its reserves need to be refilled during deep sleep. Energetically speaking, deep sleep is the provider and caretaker of dream sleep. Physiologically, there are three states of brain activity or states of consciousness: waking life, deep sleep, and dreaming. Prolonged sleep deprivation leads to the deterioration of the body and utter exhaustion. The presence of dreams might do the opposite to sleep deprivation: it leads to a sense of somatic and ontogenetic security, and it transforms unbearable emotions into something that feels manageable and contained.