There are five stages of sleep, four of which are rarely accompanied by rapid eyes movement (REM). The last and the deepest stage of sleep, the 5th stage is accompanied by REM and in this stage dreams usually occur. However dreams can occur during NREM sleep as well, but these NREM dreams are different. Dreams occurring during REM sleep are more goal-oriented and consistent, while NREM dreams are often meaningless. REM dreams are more vivid and people usually remember them, while NREM dreams are hard to remember. It is also observed that violence and aggressive interactions usually occur in REM sleep, while friendly interactions prevail in NREM sleep. Actually eyes movements repeat the eyes movements in the dream. (Macasaet)
When early researches on sleepwalking were conducted, scientists used to think that it was a disorder resulting in sleepwalkers acting out their dreams. But recent researches show that sleepwalking occurs during the periods of sleep when dreams do not occur, during NREM sleep when sleepwalkers are half awake. Some researchers suggest that sleepwalking occurs because of the lack of a chemical in human body that is responsible for paralyzing a person during sleep.
Even though so many researches investigating sleep were conducted, we still cannot say what reason our dreams serve. Some scientists believe that dreaming has no function while others try to find one. Doctor Allan Hobson, a Harvard psychiatrist, holds that dreaming serves rather physiological function then psychological. This opinion is also supported by modern researches. (Dreams may have an important physiological function) Some scientists believe that dreams are random impulses sent by our brain to exercise itself.
Works Cited
Dreams may have an important physiological function. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://phys.org/news177232375.html
Macasaet, C. (n.d.). Dreaming in REM and NREM Sleep. Retrieved from http://www.carlos-m.net/2005/03/24/dreaming-in-rem-and-nrem-sleep/
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