Lucid Dreaming Research Papers

(HOOK) “A dream is a wish the heart makes,” is not only a line from the Disney classic Cinderella but also rings true in understanding the science of dreaming. (CI) Correspondingly, the human brain has the ability to subconsciously send messages through dreams. (GS1) Dreams are essentially stories and images our mind creates while sleeping. (GS2) There are many different types of dreams one may experience, ranging from entertaining, unusual, frightening to disturbing. (GS3) Likewise, a dream can invoke a specific emotion: happiness, disappointment, fear etc., and may appear to be extremely vivid or completely distorted. (THESIS STATEMENT) Through scientific studies, the purpose of dreaming can be further explored by understanding (I) why

(RE-WORDING OF MAJOR A) Nightmares are a popular type of dream that people occasionally experience throughout their lives. (MINOR 1 FOR MA) Nightmares can be defined as distressing dreams that cause the dreamer to feel disturbing emotions which commonly include fear and anxiety (Nichols) . Although common, nightmares do not just randomly happen. They occur due to a number of factors such as stress, conflict, fear, trauma, emotional instability, medication or drug use, and illness (Nichols). As a result, all nightmares can be extremely different depending on the source of their cause. (MINOR 2 FOR MA) However, if a nightmare is recurring, the subconscious may be trying to express something. By listening to it one may be able to figure out why the bad dreams are becoming regular and hopefully find a solution. In contrast, it sometimes can become very difficult to decipher the message the recurring nightmare is sending, and seeing a medical professional will be able to help relay comfort (DerSarkissian). (RE-WORDING MAJOR B) In addition to the hidden messages that nightmares portray, lucid dreaming is an increasingly popular form of dreaming. (MINOR 1 FOR MB) Lucid dreaming is a state of sleep where the dreamer becomes aware that they are dreaming. Because of this, the dreamer may have some measure of control over their

(RE-WORDING OF MAJOR A) As people dream they may experience “typical dreams,” which are dreams with comparable content reported by a high percentage of dreamers (Nichols). (MINOR 1 FOR MA) Moreover, many people have dreams that include similar elements such as falling, being chased, flying, having magical powers, etc. Many scientists believe that these themed dreams occur due to interpersonal conflicts, self-centered motivation, and superego concerns (Nichols). Essentially, each of these occurrences have a deeper meaning that can be unique to the dreamer. (MINOR 2 FOR MA) In the same way, many outside factors contribute to the content of a dream. For example, studies have shown that between pregnant and non-pregnant women, the pregnant groups had more pregnancy, childbirth and fetus themes along with more morbid elements than the non-pregnant group (Nichols). (RE-WORDING OF MAJOR B) These typical dreams are able to be further understood and dissected to find a greater purpose. (MINOR 1 FOR MB) Furthermore, having a dream of falling can signify anxiety and a loss of control in reality. Falling dreams almost always occur during the first stage of sleep and are accompanied by muscle spasms and contractions that often results in awakening from the movement. Similarly, dreams of being