Have you ever woken up from a bizarre dream and thought, What on earth was that about? Perhaps you were flying through a city made of marshmallows or arguing with a celebrity in your old school gym hall. Dreams can be wildly imaginative, eerily realistic, or downright nonsensical — and yet, no matter how strange they are, we all experience them.
But why do we dream at all? What’s the point of these nightly mental movies? Are they messages from our subconscious, the brain’s way of processing emotions, or simply meaningless static? The truth is, even though dreams have fascinated humans for thousands of years, we still don’t have one definitive answer. However, science has offered some intriguing theories.
Let’s wander through them together.
The Ancient Fascination with Dreams
Long before psychologists and neuroscientists came along, ancient cultures believed dreams were gateways to other worlds, messages from the gods, or visions of the future. The Egyptians recorded their dreams on papyrus scrolls, while in Ancient Greece, people visited temples specifically to receive dream-guided wisdom from divine forces.
Though modern science has shifted us away from these mystical interpretations, one thing hasn’t changed: our curiosity. Dreams continue to capture our imagination — and perhaps, for good reason.
What Actually Happens When We Dream?
Most of our dreaming takes place during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep, a period characterised by increased brain activity, faster breathing, and temporary muscle paralysis. It’s during this phase that our minds conjure up vivid, story-like sequences, often with rich emotional content.
The Sleep Foundation explains that during REM sleep, certain areas of the brain — like the amygdala (which handles emotions) and the hippocampus (responsible for memory) — become particularly active. Meanwhile, the logic and reasoning centres quieten down. No wonder dreams can feel so emotionally intense and sometimes irrational.
So… Why Do We Dream?
The honest answer is: we don’t know for certain. But there are several widely respected theories, each offering a glimpse into the possible purposes of dreaming.
1. Emotional Processing
One popular idea is that dreams help us process emotions and experiences from our waking life. The mind sifts through the day’s events, making sense of feelings we may have overlooked or pushed aside.
Dr Patrick McNamara, a neuroscientist and sleep researcher, suggests that dreams help integrate emotional memories and regulate our moods. He notes that emotionally charged events are more likely to appear in our dreams, perhaps as a way for our subconscious to unpack and reframe them.
2. Memory Consolidation
Another widely supported theory is that dreaming plays a role in organising and consolidating memories. While we sleep, the brain is thought to sort through recent memories, deciding which to store and which to discard.
Some researchers believe that dreams act as a kind of rehearsal space, allowing us to process past experiences and prepare for future challenges in a safe, consequence-free environment.
3. Threat Simulation
An intriguing evolutionary theory proposes that dreams evolved as a way for our ancestors to simulate threats and practise survival skills. Finnish cognitive neuroscientist Antti Revonsuo first introduced this idea, suggesting that by encountering imagined dangers in dreams, early humans could mentally rehearse responses to real-life hazards.
While we’re unlikely to dream about outrunning sabre-toothed tigers these days, modern versions of this might include being chased, falling, or navigating social conflicts — themes many people report in their dreams.
4. Random Neural Activity
Of course, not everyone believes dreams have a grand purpose. Some scientists argue that dreaming is simply a byproduct of random brain activity during REM sleep. Known as the activation-synthesis hypothesis, this theory proposes that the brain attempts to weave these bursts of neural activity into a coherent narrative — which is why dreams often seem disjointed and surreal.
Do All Animals Dream?
Interestingly, it’s not just humans who dream. Studies on animals like dogs, cats, and rats have shown REM sleep activity consistent with dreaming behaviour. You might have noticed your dog twitching its paws or quietly barking while asleep — chances are, it’s chasing imaginary squirrels in a dream world of its own.
Can We Control Our Dreams?
If you’ve ever experienced a lucid dream — where you realise you’re dreaming and can even control what happens — you’ll know how astonishingly real it feels. Lucid dreaming is a fascinating area of dream research, and there’s growing evidence that some people can intentionally enter this state.
If that idea captures your interest, you might enjoy my guide to how to lucid dream, which walks you through gentle, practical steps to experience it yourself.
Final Thoughts: A Mystery Worth Embracing
While the question “why do we dream?” still doesn’t have a single, conclusive answer, the theories we do have are intriguing — and suggest that our night-time imaginings might be more meaningful than we realise. Whether it’s untangling emotions, cementing memories, or simply giving our brains a little creative playtime, dreaming remains one of the mind’s most mysterious and beautiful functions.
So the next time you wake up from a strange or stirring dream, perhaps jot it down. Who knows? It might be your subconscious trying to tell you something — or just your brain having a bit of fun while you sleep.
Sources and Further Reading
- Sleep Foundation — Overview of sleep stages and REM activity
- International Association for the Study of Dreams — Global resource for dream research and interpretation
