Aphantasia: Experiences, Perceptions, and Insights by Alan Kendle

Author:Alan Kendle [Kendle, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Aphantasia
Publisher: Dark River
Published: 2017-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6: Sleeping and Dreaming

We all sleep, but do we all dream?

Dreams can be defined as a series of thoughts, images, feelings, and ideas, experienced in the mind during sleep, which occur involuntarily. There is currently no scientific consensus on the exact purpose behind dreaming, although the study of dreams – oneirology – has progressed significantly since the discovery of sleep phases in the 1950s.

While dreams can vary quite significantly, both in terms of content and the way in which the dream is actually experienced by each person, there are also many shared traits.

The vast majority of dreams are forgotten either immediately, or very quickly after waking. Research suggests the ability to recall dreams can be influenced by various additional factors, including avoiding delays in waking up and having a desire to recall them. People are also more likely to remember emotionally distressing dreams.

The most common themes identified in dreams include falling, flying, being unable to find a toilet, and failing exams. However, while many dreams adhere to common themes, there can also be significant variation in our experience of dreaming.

Most people dream from a first-person perspective, yet some report dreaming from a third-person perspective, meaning they see themselves in their dreams. Others dream that they are somebody else entirely. Moreover, while most people dream in colour, it is estimated that around 12 percent dream in black and white.

The ‘purpose’ behind dreams has been the subject of considerable debate for centuries. Sigmund Freud, for instance, famously hypothesized that dreaming was the unconscious expression of forbidden desires, anxieties, or wishes. Although no consensus exists to this day, advances in neuroscience have helped to improve our understanding.

A 2011 study provides scientific support for the idea that dreams have a key role to play in processing emotions, while further research has suggested dreams also help with consolidating memories and newly-learned information. This would appear to indicate that dreams serve to assist with knowledge retention.

According to some studies, somewhere in the region of 70 percent of all dreams include a threatening situation. This has led to the development of a ‘threat simulation hypothesis’ which suggests dreams play a role in preparing us for tackling danger, serving as a type of simulation or rehearsal for the threats we may face in real life.

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[Alan] I dream when I’m asleep, and I sometimes ‘remember the dream’. My ability to remember is very short-term; if I do not remember it within minutes of waking up, I will not remember anything.

When I recall my dream, I see lots of visual imaginary. I can only remember what has happened in dreams for the first 30 minutes of being awake, mostly for nightmares I think; I don’t remember as many of the good or nice dreams, mainly the bad ones. It could be that the bad ones are simply more vivid with stronger emotions to remember and recall when I wake up.

I recently found out (while writing this book) that I dream in colour; until then I was not sure if I did or did not.

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