Since the Ancient Greeks in 500BC, people have been curious to what their dreams have meant, and why they have them.
Dreams are a collection of sometimes incontrollable images, sound, ideas and feelings. These are typically experienced during the deepest stages of sleep of Rapid Eye Movement (REM).
Throughout the years several scientific experiments have been undergone, as well as theorists’ interpretations, to discover what the purposes of dreams are.
Scientific research has found that dreams are an essential aspect of sleep, as dreams provide an important service, biologically, psychologically and cognitively.
During the sleeping process dreams provide a component and form of memory processing that aids learning and both short-term and long-term memory storage, as well as a protective process that helps the brain to prepare for challenges, dangers and threats.
People have always believed that there is a spiritual meaning behind dreams. In the Ancient times of the Roman Empire it was strongly believed that dreams were a powerful prediction of the future. Dream interpreters were even hired to interpret the dreams of the wealthy.
Greek philosophers Aristotle and Plato theorised that dreams are a safe environment for people to live out their desires and needs. Even today people use the internet to interpret what their dreams mean.
Psychologist Linda Blair has looked into dreams and has suggested that dreams have two types’ of dreams, one that have an emotional connection, and one that sorts out content throughout the day.
Similar to Aristotle and Plato, she believes that dreams are a way for people to live out desires, as well as situations that haven’t been resolved consciously.
People can influence their dreams by altering their sleeping position. An associate professor at Hong Kong Yan University, Calvin Kai-Ching Yu, PhD, tested 670 adults and discovered that different positions can result in different types of dreams. In Particular, Dr Yu determined that lying on your stomach allows you to experience more positive and exciting dreams with the majority being about sex and love affairs.
Dr Mehmet Yucel Agargun at the YuZunCu Yil University found when testing the sleeping patterns of 60 adults that lying on your side has an effect on your dreams. It was discovered that lying on your right side evokes dreams of safety and relief, while sleeping on your left side are more connected to intense emotions and insecurity.
It has been found that the majority of people who sleep on their back have a random variety of dreams, but once they wake up on their back, they have no dream recall at all.
A memory foam mattress has become the most comfortable mattress to sleep on because it relieved pressure from the body and therefore allows the sleeper to sleep comfortable in any position. This means you can begin to influence what kind of dreams you want without worrying about being uncomfortable.