But not everyone agrees. In fact, there’s a growing body of research that specifically counters Hobson and McCarley’s theory and sets out to prove that your brain actually actively works through problems, pulling out new insights and solutions from the far reaches of your mind. It explains why many people who hear tapes while they drift off to sleep, even though they’re not actively listening, still find that the information gets into their minds.
“Dreaming is a thinking process,” says Lauri Quinn Loewenberg, an author and dream expert. “Your dreams are a continuation of your thoughts from the previous day, but, since our brains work differently during REM, we are essentially thinking in a different language than we do while awake. We are thinking in a language of symbols and metaphors rather than in words. Remembering, paying attention to and working with our dreams can also help us with our creative ideas. For example, James Cameron uses his dreams for ideas for his movies. He built the story of Terminator around an image from a dream he had where he watched a skeletal robot emerge from flames. The land of Pandora in Avatar is from one of his dreams.”
Lucid Dreaming
If dreaming about our lives and work can make us more creative and help us better remember things, then it only stands to reason that we’d like a bit of control over what we actually get to see in our dreams. That’s where the concept of lucid dreaming comes in.
Lucid dreaming is defined as being in a dream state but remaining conscious of it at the same time; you know it’s a dream, you know you’re in it, and you can control what you do. Although many people report having had lucid dreams at least once or twice in their lives, it’s not a state that’s easily reachable. Also, finding the control to shape the dream while in it is harder still, though not impossible.
Lucid dreaming happens during REM sleep, and studies have shown that the activation patterns in the brain during REM are similar to those of wake consciousness and self-awareness. Research shows that when lucid dreamers have been asked to perform certain movements, such as clenching their fists, they’ve found electromyographic activity in the corresponding body parts.
“Most people just let their dreams flow naturally,” says Neven Gibbs, a writer and entertainer who uses dreams in his own creative process. “Sometimes the brain analyzes known past data and presents a precognitive probability commonly considered a clairvoyant dream. This mass of fat — brain cells and neurons — is a fascinating biological marvel capable of so much when actually in use. Of course, one has to take it out of neutral and engage the gears, fire up the boilers and point the thing up the river of thought. Controlling dreams takes effort and practice. There are plenty of examples of brilliant minds that use dreams when awake and asleep. Presidents, scientists and businessmen, when faced with a problem or seeking an idea, took a nap.”
New research is focusing on whether one can master a sport or improve musical abilities by practicing during sleep. It may sound like science fiction, but scientists don’t think it’s as far fetched as it sounds. In a study published in the journal The Sport Psychologist, University of Bern psychologist Dr. Daniel Erlacher and colleagues asked participants to dream about tossing coins into a cup. Those who dreamed about engaging in the task successfully showed a marked improvement in their real-life coin tossing as well.
So what should you do if you’re struggling with a problem at work, can’t find enough time to practice those salsa moves, or are desperate to beat your partner at tennis? Sleep on it, and dream about it.
This article is updated from its initial publication in Brain World Magazine’s Fall 2013 issue.
