Key Health Benefits of Dreaming During the REM Sleep Phase

Matthew Kafker is dedicated to his university studies and holds diverse interests in linguistics, literature, physics, mathematics, microbiology, and computer science. In his spare time, Matthew Kafker also enjoys listening to classical music by Johannes Brahms and is learning about topics such as mythology and ancient cultures, the old testament, and the health effects of dreaming.

Dreaming positively impacts human well-being by easing emotional stressors experienced during time awake. Research suggests that experiencing dreams during REM-sleep helps to provide resolution to these emotional problems by the morning time. During dreams, key memory and emotional-related brain structures are reactivated during REM sleep, the only time when the anxiety causing hormone noradrenaline is not present in the brain. When this reactivation occurs, stressful memories can be processed in a calmer and safer environment because noradrenaline is not present.

Creativity and problem solving are also enhanced during dreaming that occurs with REM sleep. It’s at this time that the brain can process vast amounts of acquired knowledge to find answers to previously unsolvable problems and combine memories in novel ways to enhance creative abilities.