Why Do We Dream?

What You'll Learn

• Dreams are stories and pictures our minds make while we sleep
• Most dreaming happens during a sleep stage called REM
• Our brains are very active during dreams
• Dreams may help us sort feelings, memories, and ideas
• Not all scientists agree on exactly why we dream

Words to Know

Dream

A story your mind makes while you sleep

"I dreamed I could fly."

REM sleep

A sleep stage when most dreaming happens

"REM sleep is when my eyes move fast."

Memory

Something your brain remembers

"My dream had people from my memory."

Brain

The organ that thinks and dreams

"My brain makes dreams at night."

Check What You Learned

Fun Facts

• Dreams are experiences during sleep involving sensations, images, and emotions

  Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

• Most vivid dreaming occurs during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep

  Source: NINDS

• During REM sleep, the brain is highly active, similar to wakefulness

  Source: Sleep Foundation

• Theories about dreaming include memory consolidation, emotional processing, and threat simulation

  Source: Harvard Medical School / Sleep Foundation

• The exact function of dreams is still not fully understood by scientists

  Source: NINDS

• Most people dream multiple times per night but may not remember them

  Source: Sleep Foundation