The Purpose of Dreams

Table of Contents

The purpose of dreams has been a subject of speculation for thousands of years. Greek philosopher Aristotle believed that dreams occurred because of residual movements of sensory organs, while psychiatrist Sigmund Freud theorized that dreams were a manifestation of repressed desires.

Many of these early theories of dreams were disproved by the discovery of REM sleep in the 1950’s. Dreams are now known to occur primarily during the REM stage of sleep, when brain activity is most similar to that of the wake state.

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Several theories of dreams have emerged over the last four decades, some as recently as a few years ago. Unlike early theories of dreams, newer theories are supported by substantial research, brain imaging, and other important advances in sleep science.

Note: The content on Sleepopolis is meant to be informative in nature, but it shouldn’t be taken as medical advice, and it shouldn’t take the place of medical advice and supervision from a trained professional. If you feel you may be suffering from any sleep disorder or medical condition, please see your healthcare provider immediately.

The AIM Theory of Dreaming

Originally called the Activation Synthesis Theory, the AIM Theory of Dreaming was developed by J. Allan Hobson, who first presented his theory of dreaming in 1978. He and colleague Robert McCarley believe that dreams have a neurobiological explanation that originates with basic reproductive and survival functions. These functions do not cease during sleep, but are essential processes that continue without interruption during the sleep and wake states. (1)

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According to Dr. Hobson, dreams occur when the cerebral cortex attempts to make sense of activity originating from more primitive areas of the brain during sleep, such as the brain stem. Because the release of neurotransmitters and other activity continues during sleep, so does stimulation to the brain. Though large parts of the brain are deactivated during the sleep state, basic functions such as signal processing do not switch off. The byproduct of this crucial brain activity may be dreams. (2)

The AIM theory was a direct repudiation of Sigmund Freud’s theory that dreams represented repressed desires, and had a strong psychological basis. (3) Dr. Hobson argues that dreams are not psychological in nature, but an attempt by the forebrain to create a narrative from essential neurobiological processes.

Forebrain

The forward-most part of the brain. The forebrain controls voluntary movement and the processing of sensory information, as well as emotion, speech, and abstract thought.

The Threat Simulation Theory of Dreaming

Finnish cognitve neuroscientist Antti Revonsuo developed the Threat Simulation Theory of dreaming, which posits that dreams serve an evolutionary purpose and are directly related to human survival. In Revonsuo’s theory, dreams are a type of rehearsal that allow the brain to simulate fight or flight situations during the sleep state. (4) Dreams may help the brain to prepare for threatening or dangerous events during wakefulness.

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In support of this theory, Revonsuo presents research which demonstrates that fear and anger are the most common emotions experienced in dreaming. (5Threatening themes are common in dreams across cultures, and include:

  • Drowning
  • Being chased
  • Being trapped
  • Being naked
  • Falling
  • Being late
  • Poor performance
  • Being trapped

Supporters of the Threat Simulation Theory believe that dreaming had an adaptive function, perhaps less so in modern society than in primitive societies when survival was frequently at risk. (6)

Critics of the Threat Simulation Theory point out that there is no existing evidence of a positive evolutionary effect of dream simulation. It is also unclear if the outcome of dreams is impacted by any action by the dreamer. Still, there is strong support for the idea that a significant amount of dream content is representative of a threat, and may therefore be the brain’s way of rehearsing for situations that could put survival at risk.

FAQ

What explains recurring dreams? Research reveals that recurring dreams, dreams with a similar theme that occur repeatedly over months or years, typically involve negative content such as being chased or failing an exam, and may represent an unresolved conflict or a source of stress.

The Contemporary Theory of Dreaming

The Contemporary Theory of Dreaming was developed by Ernest Hartmann, professor of psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Hartmann’s theory of dreaming holds that the brain is designed to make connections between thoughts and concepts, and these connections form the basis of mental functioning. These connections do not stop while we sleep, but form more loosely, leading to the experience of dreams. (7)

Dr. Hartmann does not believe that dreams are random firings of neurons, but are shaped by the emotions of the dreamer. In support of this idea, some studies have shown that dream imagery is more focused and the intensity of dreams is greater after trauma events. (8)

First Night Effect

The term for the increased level of left-hemisphere brain activity and alertness that takes place on the first night sleeping in new surroundings. The first night effect may result in decreased REM sleep, as well as less time spent dreaming.

Dr. Hartmann believes that emotional processing occurs through dreams, diminishing their initial power and relegating them to memory, where they become less unique and potentially disruptive psychologically. This happens metaphorically, which explains why dreams are often only tangentially related to real life. In Dr. Hartmann’s view, dreams may allow for more efficient processing of emotion related to similar events, should they occur in the future.

According to Dr. Hartmann, the ability to process events through dreams and store them in memory may have been particularly helpful earlier in human history, when death, loss, and other forms of trauma were more common.

The Expectation Fulfillment Theory of Dreaming

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The expectation fulfillment theory suggests that dreaming helps resolve emotions and human drives not adequately expressed during waking hours. Researcher and psychologist Joe Griffin believes that dreams are metaphors that represent emotional “arousals,” instincts or feelings that may not be appropriate or safe to act on during the day.

Dr. Griffin theorizes that dreams represent instinct patterns, or expectations, that need to be deactivated during sleep so that optimal functioning can be resumed the next day. This may be associated with the purpose of REM sleep during fetal development, when human beings are programmed with survival instincts. This process creates certain expectations and connections that the brain continues to look for throughout life.

In the expectation fulfillment theory of dreaming, dreams are metaphors for unfulfilled arousals and expectations. Because sleep does not involve the stimulation of waking life, dreams do not draw directly on motor or sensory activity, but on memory. This process creates the unusual imagery, narratives, and thought patterns characteristic of dreams.

FAQ

When does REM sleep occur? REM sleep begins approximately 90 minutes after sleep begins, and lasts about ten minutes. A night of sufficient sleep typically requires four cycles of REM sleep, each lasting longer than the previous REM cycle.

The Overnight Therapy Theory of Dreaming

This novel theory of dreaming is supported by extensive research conducted by Matthew Walker, author of Why We Sleep and professor at the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Walker believes that sleep is essential not just for the healing of physical wounds, but of psychic ones, as well. Dr. Walker believes that only certain significant aspects of each learning experience become part of our dreams, and thereby assist in creative thinking and problem-solving.

Dr. Walker’s research reveals that noradrenaline, a molecule associated with anxiety, is absent from the brain during REM sleep, when dreams are most likely to occur. At the same time, centers of memory and emotion are activated. (9) This may allow memories and emotions to be processed in an environment free from stress and anxiety. Dr. Walker theorizes that the de-escalation of emotional reactivity may be one of the primary functions of dreaming. (10)

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To prove this theory, Dr Walker showed emotionally-charged images to volunteers and measured their stress responses on MRI. Some of the volunteers had a chance to spend time in REM sleep before viewing the images again, while others did not. The volunteers who had slept recorded a marked decrease in stress-related brain activity, while the dreamless volunteers did not show the same reduction. (11)

Dr. Walker believes that dreaming is much more than the brain’s attempt to make sense of primitive neurochemical functions during sleep. In his view, dreams have a psychologically restorative purpose. The nature of REM sleep, when noradrenaline is reduced and brain activity resembles that of wakefulness, may allow memories and emotions to be processed in a safe, low-stress environment, improving psychological functioning and emotional adaptation.

Last Word from Sleepopolis

We now know that the brain is more active during the dreams of REM sleep than at any other time except wakefulness. Far from resting in a dormant state, the dreaming brain continues to function at a high level. The question is, why?

While no theory of dreaming has been proven definitively, recent advances in sleep science have brought us closer to understanding the purpose of dreams. Whether to prepare for threats or process emotions and trauma, dreaming appears to serve an important evolutionary function. That similar dreams tend to occur across cultures reveals the common themes that drive us even in sleep.

Along with advances in neuroimaging and technology, interest in sleep health and dreaming has grown substantially. It may be only a matter of time before we discover why we spend a substantial portion of our lives in dreams.

References

  1. 1. J.A. Hobson, Waking and dreaming consciousness: Neurobiological and functional considerations, Progress in Neurobiology, July 2012
  2. J. Allan Hobson, REM sleep and dreaming: towards a theory of protoconsciousness, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, Oct. 2009
  3. Boag S., On Dreams and Motivation: Comparison of Freud’s and Hobson’s Views, Frontiers in Psychology, Jan. 6, 2017
  4. Antti Revonsuo, How to Test the Threat Simulation Theory, Consciousness and Cognition, 2008
  5. Antti Revonsuo, The reinterpretation of dreams: An evolutionary hypothesis of the function of dreaming, Behavioral Brain Sciences, 2000
  6. Katja Valli and Antti Revonsuo, The threat simulation theory in light of recent empirical evidence: A review, American Journal of Psychiatry, Spring 2009
  7. Ernest Hartmann, M.D., Outline for a Theory on the Nature and Functions of Dreaming, Dreaming, 1996
  8. Ernest Hartmann, M.D., The Dream Always Makes New Connections: The Dream is a Creation, Not a Replay, Sleep Medicine Clinics, 2010
  9. Goldstein AN, Walker MP, The Role of Sleep in Emotional Brain Function, Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, Jan. 31, 2014
  10. Gujar N, McDonald SA, Nishida M, Walker MP, A Role for REM Sleep in Recalibrating the Sensitivity of the Human Brain to Specific Emotions, Cerebral Cortex, Jan. 2011
  11. Walker MP, van der Helm E., Overnight Therapy? The Role of Sleep in Emotional Brain Processing, Psychological Bulletin, June 2009

Rose MacDowell

Rose is the former Chief Research Officer at Sleepopolis. An incurable night owl, she loves discovering the latest information about sleep and how to get (lots) more of it. She is a published novelist who has written everything from an article about cheese factories to clock-in instructions for assembly line workers in Belgium. One of her favorite parts of her job is connecting with the best sleep experts in the industry and utilizing their wealth of knowledge in the pieces she writes. She enjoys creating engaging articles that make a difference in people’s lives. Her writing has been reviewed by The Boston Globe, Cosmopolitan, and the Associated Press, and received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. When she isn’t musing about sleep, she’s usually at the gym, eating extremely spicy food, or wishing she were snowboarding in her native Colorado. Active though she is, she considers staying in bed until noon on Sundays to be important research.