Sleeping for Tomorrow

Sleep is probably the most important aspect of our lives. It allows humans to recover from mental stress as well as physical stress. However, what is more interesting is the possible repercussions sleep has in aiding memory and learning. If is difficult to precisely describe the biological processes that take place when the brain is in sleep, but there are ways we can compare the brain when it is asleep to when it is awake. Detecting different types of brain waves can allow a researcher to study sleep cycles and make inferences to what may be happening during sleep. One example of this is the comparison between brain waves while awake and the brain waves in REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. It is interesting to note that the brain waves produced in REM sleep largely resemble those produced while fully conscious and awake. All of the other stages (Stage 1-4) are more unique and can be easily distinguished from each other. REM sleep is also associated with the majority of dreams. Most of these dreams are contrary to reality and can have a great deal of fantasy to them. It is debated how these dreams are produced and how they reflect our own cognition. Some believe that dreams are merely crazy interpretations that are brain makes when the pons sends signals throughout it, but others believe that the forebrain has a large effect on dreams. The latter would suggest that dreams could serve more of a purpose as opposed to random images. Recent studies have been able to conjure images from a subjects' brain based on what they are seeing on a screen. The results so far have been extremely impressive and if this technique could be applied to dreams to provide a visual representation, a deeper look can be given to the psychological applications of dreams. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nsjDnYxJ0bo