When we fall asleep, we dive into a strange universe, sometimes wonderful, sometimes frightening: that of dreams. Some seem so real that we might believe they actually happened, while others are completely absurd. But why does our brain invent these nighttime stories? Is it just random, or is it a useful, even necessary, activity for our mind?
The role of dreams in our brain
During the night, our brain doesn't shut down. It remains active, but in a different way than when awake. Sleep consists of cycles that repeat several times. During certain moments, particularly what's called REM sleep, brain activity closely resembles that of daytime. It's during these phases that dreams are most intense and detailed.
Researchers believe that dreams participate in memory organization. The events of the day don't remain jumbled: at night, the brain sorts them, consolidates them, and sometimes mixes them with other memories. This would explain why our dreams are often strange, but also why they can help us learn and create. Some scientists go even further and claim that dreams play a role in emotional regulation. Dreaming would help lessen the weight of difficult experiences, almost as if the brain were doing emotional digestion work.
Finally, another hypothesis is that dreams serve as mental training. By imagining stressful or unusual situations, our mind could prepare to react to them in real life. This idea would explain why so many dreams feature dangers, escapes, or challenges: it's a kind of safe dress rehearsal.
Why are our dreams so strange?
Even though dreams have an important role, they don't always have clear meaning. Indeed, the part of the brain that imposes logic and control is much less active during REM sleep. This gives free rein to imagination and emotions, which weave often incoherent stories. The result is these scenarios where places, people, and time periods mix without apparent order.
This doesn't mean dreams are useless. On the contrary, this creative freedom sometimes allows for new idea associations. Many artists, inventors, or researchers report having found inspiration through a dream. Even if the content seems confusing to us, it can therefore open unexpected doors.
Ultimately, dreams aren't just background noise from our brain. They're an integral part of our mind's functioning, between memory, emotions, and imagination. And if we don't yet have all the answers, one thing is certain: dreaming is as essential to sleep as sleeping itself.