The neuroscience behind dreams and their meanings
Dreams are our brain’s way of playing, processing and sometimes being plain weird. Whether they’re helping us deal with emotions, prepping for challenges or sparking creative ideas, they’re a fascinating part of being human. So next time you wake up from a wild dream, don’t just shrug it off—your brain might be up to something brilliant.
What’s going on in your brain while you dream?
Dreams are like your brain throwing a wild, unsupervised party while you’re asleep. During REM sleep (the stage where most dreams happen), your brain gets really creative. The amygdala (emotions center) is running the show, so your dreams are often dramatic or emotional. Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex (the logic boss) is taking a nap, which is why your dreams don’t always make sense. Flying elephants? Sure, why not! Dreams feel so vivid because your occipital cortex (visual center) is active during REM sleep. It’s like your brain is producing a blockbuster movie every night.
Ever dreamed of being chased but couldn’t run fast? That’s your brain interpreting fight-or-flight instincts without actually needing to escape anything.
Why do we even dream?
Scientists are still debating the purpose of dreams, but there are some fascinating theories. One idea is that dreams act as a memory cleanup crew, with your brain Marie Kondo-ing memories by keeping the important ones and discarding the rest. As Matthew Walker explains in Why We Sleep, dreaming is like overnight therapy, soothing painful experiences and making space for new learning. Another theory sees dreams as an emotional sandbox, helping us process feelings we struggle with while awake - like replaying scenarios with an ex to heal from a breakup. Finally, the Activation-Synthesis Theory suggests dreams are your brain's theatre of the absurd, where random neural signals are stitched into a story, much like throwing darts at a storyboard to create a bizarre movie.
What do dreams mean?
Dream meanings can be as mysterious as the dreams themselves. While Freud famously said dreams are the royal road to the unconscious, modern neuroscience takes a less dramatic approach. Freud believed dreams hide your deepest desires, with symbols like ladders representing ambition - or, let’s say, other things (Freud had a knack for wild interpretations). On the other hand, neuroscientist Allan Hobson, in The Interpretation of Dreams, argued that dreams are more grounded, shaped by your daily experiences - so if you’ve been binge-watching Stranger Things, don’t be surprised if a Demogorgon pops up in your dream!
Ever dreamed you forgot to study for an exam or showed up to work naked? That’s your brain spotlighting anxiety. Not a psychic warning - just stress talking.
The science of weird dreams
Recurring Dreams: These are like your brain saying, We need to talk. For instance, dreaming of falling could symbolise feeling out of control in real life.
Nightmares: Scary dreams are your amygdala in overdrive. If you’ve ever woken up sweating after dreaming of zombies, it’s because your brain takes threat rehearsal seriously. Your brain: Let’s pretend we’re in danger so we’re ready for the real thing!
Lucid Dreams: These are like VR for your brain - you’re aware you’re dreaming and can even control it. Think Inception! There’s even a book about this: Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self by Robert Waggoner.
Famous dream stories
Dreams have inspired some incredible real-life breakthroughs! Did you know that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein came from a dream? Have you heard that Dmitri Mendeleev saw the periodic table in a dream? He said: I saw in a dream, a table where all the elements fell into place as required. So the next time someone calls your daydreaming a waste of time, remind them: it might just lead to your big invention!
How to decode your dreams?
This paragraph will not be about googling - what’s the meaning of dreaming about pigeons and getting hits like: look after your left toe. If you’re really curious about dream interpretation it may be a good idea to keep a dream journal. Write down your dreams right after waking up (without commentary or judgement) and you’ll start noticing patterns. For a fun read, you may also want to check out The Dream Dictionary by Tony Crisp.
I hope you liked this short post about the neuroscience behind dreams and their meanings. Thanks for visiting and hope to hear from you soon!
