Dreams 'can help with learning'

Napping after learning something new could help you commit it to memory - as long as
you dream, scientists say.
They found people who dream about a new task perform it better on waking than those who do not
sleep or do not dream.
Volunteers were asked to learn the layout of a 3D computer maze so they could find their way
within the virtual space several hours later.
Those allowed to take a nap and who also remembered dreaming of the task, found their way to a
landmark quicker.
The researchers think the dreams are a sign that unconscious parts of the brain are working hard
to process information about the task.
Dr Robert Stickgold of Harvard Medical School, one of the authors of the paper, said dreams may
be a marker that the brain is working on the same problem at many levels.
He said: "The dreams might reflect the brain's attempt to find associations for the memories that
could make them more useful in the future."
Study tips
Co-author Dr Erin Wamsley said the study suggests our non-conscious brain works on the things
that it deems are most important.
"Every day we are gathering and encountering tremendous amounts of information and new
experiences," she said.
"It would seem that our dreams are asking the question, 'How do I use this information to inform
my life?"
The research, published in the academic journal Cell Biology, could have practical implications.
The scientists say there may be ways to take advantage of this phenomenon for improving learning
and memory.
For example, students might be better studying hard before bedtime, or taking a nap after a period
of afternoon study.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/8638551.stm

Published: 2010/04/23 01:57:22 GMT

BBC 2014




I ) Mark sentences True / False



1) Napping can help students to memorize things better
True False

2) if we do not dream about the new task to perform, we will
fail it .


3) all volunteers found the way within the virtual maze


4) When we sleep our brain is working hard to process
information about the task


5) When we dream our brain is probably looking for
connections between present and past


6) the non-conscious part of the brain seems to process not
important information


7) Dreams may help us to sort out information


8) Scientist are trying to use this discovery to help students
learn and memorize things















II) name 3 KINDS OF DREAMS and give their definitions
e.g - a recurring dream - a dream that you keep on having
1)
2)
3)
III) Other language we often use to describe dreams give 5 examples :
e.g have a horrible dream
1)
2)
3)
5)
5)


Iv) Explain the difference between to dream of / dream about
Give examples



V) give a nice expression for when someone goes to bed at night:


VI) The word 'dream' is used in two main contexts explain :



VII) 'As if in a dream explain the meaning and give an example

IX) what do you usually dream about? Do you believe in dreams? Explain
















Answers
1) False napping after leaning sth can help as long as we dream
2) False there is on info if we will fail; there is only info that if we dream we will perform the task
better
3) True there is said that those who had a nap found the way quicker so it means that all of them
found the way;
4) False when we dream
5) true
6) false
7) true
8) true