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Dreams

Dreams are stories and images that our minds create while we sleep. They can be entertaining, fun, romantic, disturbing, frightening, and sometimes bizarre.

They are an enduring source of mystery for scientists and psychological doctors. Why do dreams occur? What causes them? Can we control them? What do they mean?

This article will explore the current theories, causes, and applications of dreaming.

Fast facts on dreams

  • We may not remember dreaming, but everyone is thought to dream between 3 and 6 times per night
  • It is thought that each dream lasts between 5 to 20 minutes.
  • Around 95 percent of dreams are forgotten by the time a person gets out of bed.
  • Dreaming can help you learn and develop long-term memories.
  • Blind people dream more with other sensory components com
  • What does it mean when we dream?

    Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D., CRNP on June 28, 2018 — Written by Hannah Nichols

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    Dreams are stories and images that our minds create while we sleep. They can be entertaining, fun, romantic, disturbing, frightening, and sometimes bizarre.

    They are an enduring source of mystery for scientists and psychological doctors. Why do dreams occur? What causes them? Can we control them? What do they mean?

    This article will explore the current theories, causes, and applications of dreaming.

    Fast facts on dreams

    • We may not remember dreaming, but everyone is thought to dream between 3 and 6 times per night
    • It is thought that each dream lasts between 5 to 20 minutes.
    • Around 95 percent of dreams are forgotten by the time a person gets out of bed.
    • Dreaming can help you learn and develop long-term memories.
    • Blind people dream more with other sensory components compared with sighted people.

    Everyone probably dreamsShare on Pinterest
    Dreams: Do they represent our unconsious desires?

    There are several theories about why we dream. Are dreams merely part of the sleep cycle, or do they serve some other purpose?

    Possible explanations include:

    • representing unconscious desires and wishes
    • interpreting random signals from the brain and body during sleep
    • consolidating and processing information gathered during the day
    • working as a form of psychotherapy

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