Danny Uppala

Ms. Lacey
06 February 2015
Research Paper Draft II
Working Title: A Plunge into the Phenomena of Human Dreams
It may come as a shock to many, but modern science still cannot provide a
thorough explanation as to why the human brain dreams and even sleeps. This is one of
sciences greatest mysteries concerning the human brain. The phenomenon of dreaming
has captivated the hearts and minds of mankind since the beginning of time. Dreams are a
universal human fascination and obsession, and the mysterious nature of this enigmatic
wonder only adds to its prevalence in human culture.
Dreaming is such a relatable action due to the fact that every human on earth
dreams night. Human spend a third of their life sleeping. Some might not remember his
or her dreams however everyone does in fact dream every time they enter a period of
sleep. During this remarkable phenomenon, the human brain can allow the dreamer to
enter an alternate realm of reality. Within this realm our own conscious is in
communication with our senses and in most cases this is involuntary. With the rare
exception of lucid dreaming, the dreamer is not subject to pick the contents of their
dream.
There are many theories as to why the human brain dreams. To this very day there
is still no universal scientific consensus as to why dreams occur. There are many
scientific as well as philosophical hypotheses as to why we dream. The reason there is no
universally accepted theory is due to the fact that modern science simply cannot fully
comprehend the capabilities the human brain. The brain is the most mysterious and

complex organ in the human body. Although there is countless hypotheses, there are a
few main scientific theories that many would argue are the best presumptions as to why
the human brain dreams. One of the most popular theories for human dreaming is that the
brain simply needs rest. Many would argue against this theory due to the fact that during
the process of dreaming modern technology has revealed extremely high neural activity
occurring. Another popular theory is that when one dreams and sleeps the brain is sorting
and associating memories acquired during the day as well as learning what is important
and what is not or forgettable. There is much evidence for this theory. A third theory is
that the brain, through the process of dreaming, is running simulations and problem
solving strategies before testing out these key actions in the real world.
Dreams have been a significant icon in all ages and cultures of mankind since the
beginning. There are few matters that every member of the human race can relate to and
this phenomenon is one of them. Dreams have attributed to beliefs, religions, and lifestyle
of almost every culture on the planet. Even in the modern culture of our very own
country, dreams have an iconic importance. Many would conjecture that the mysterious
and enigmatic nature of the phenomenon is the reason for this iconic status.
Aside from the countless scientific explanations for dreaming there are numerous
philosophical theories as to why humans dream. One of the most popular philosophical
theories concerning consciousness and dreaming comes from the great philosopher,
Descartes. The question that this philosopher based his entire theory on is how can I be
sure that I am not now currently dreaming? He believed that humans cannot trust in their
senses in life, without invoking guidance from a benevolent God.
His theory is that everything that we know could be false and be generated from a
dream. This is due to the fact that during a typical dream, the dreamer goes through a
situation that is similar to one that is experienced in everyday life. Within this dream the

dreamer does not realize that the experience that they are currently in is a dream. Thus the
experiences that one has in a dream cannot be differentiated from real life. It is because of
these facts that Descartes believed in his theory.
Another philosophical theory concerning dreams is that when one dreams, the
dream occurs in real time. This means that the dream is not one brief flash and it is
approximately taking place in real time. Proof of this theory can be attributed to the fact
that when one remembers his or her dream they can usually recall points of a dream and
may sometimes forget details in-between these points. This means that when one is
dreaming, the scope of his or her actions is similar to actions carried out in real life.
One of the most popularized and sustained theories as to why humans dream
came from Freud in 1900. He believed that dreams are a mental activity that the brain
undergoes. He believed that dreams give tremendous insight into the subconscious.
During sleep the mind is disconnected from the outside world however it is still
functional. Due to the fact that it is still functioning, Freud believed that the mind would
undergo activity which leads to the process of dreaming.
Another theory as to why humans dream is that the human brain dreams to
process painful emotions with symbolic associations. Scientists believe that when we
dream we are running ideas and emotions in a psychological context. The content of our
dream is therefore symbolic to what emotions we are coping with. When there is trauma
in ones life then the dream becomes much more complicated however when life is much
more simple then the dream also becomes much more simplistic.
Another theory as to why we dream is for filament. This is actually one of the
more popular and accepted theories as to why humans dream. This theory can also be
attributed to Freud. He states that when humans dream they are fulfilling desires. Then
one would argue do people really desire to have nightmares? He would argue that even

the most terrifying dreams are still accomplishing the fulfillment of the dreamer.
There are many theories as to why we dream; however, there is no doubt that
dreams are of much religious significance to many all around the world. Since the
beginning of time dreams have been a means of communication to the supernatural. In
many religions dreams have been used as a medium in order for God to communicate
with humans.
Dreams can be found in every aspect of pop culture. Countless movies, books,
works of literature, and music all devote tremendous prominence to the subject of
dreaming.