A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the

mind during certain stages of sleep.[1] The content and purpose of dreams are not fully understood,
although they have been a topic of scientific, philosophical and religious interest throughout recorded
history. Dream interpretation is the attempt at drawing meaning from dreams and searching for an
underlying message. The scientific study of dreams is called oneirology.[2]

Dreams mainly occur in the rapid-eye movement (REM) stage of sleep—when brain activity is high and
resembles that of being awake. REM sleep is revealed by continuous movements of the eyes during
sleep. At times, dreams may occur during other stages of sleep. However, these dreams tend to be
much less vivid or memorable.[3] The length of a dream can vary; they may last for a few seconds, or
approximately 20–30 minutes.[3] People are more likely to remember the dream if they are awakened
during the REM phase. The average person has three to five dreams per night, and some may have up to
seven;[4] however, most dreams are immediately or quickly forgotten.[5] Dreams tend to last longer as
the night progresses. During a full eight-hour night sleep, most dreams occur in the typical two hours of
REM.[6] Dreams related to waking-life experiences are associated with REM theta activity, which
suggests that emotional memory processing takes place in REM sleep.[7]

Opinions about the meaning of dreams have varied and shifted through time and culture. Many endorse
the Freudian theory of dreams – that dreams reveal insight into hidden desires and emotions.[qualify
evidence] Other prominent theories include those suggesting that dreams assist in memory formation,
problem solving, or simply are a product of random brain activation.[8]

Sigmund Freud, who developed the psychological discipline of psychoanalysis, wrote extensively about
dream theories and their interpretations in the early 1900s.[9] He explained dreams as manifestations of
one's deepest desires and anxieties, often relating to repressed childhood memories or obsessions.
Furthermore, he believed that virtually every dream topic, regardless of its content, represented the
release of sexual tension.[10] In The Interpretation of Dreams (1899), Freud developed a psychological
technique to interpret dreams and devised a series of guidelines to understand the symbols and motifs
that appear in our dreams. In modern times, dreams have been seen as a connection to the unconscious
mind. They range from normal and ordinary to overly surreal and bizarre. Dreams can have varying
natures, such as being frightening, exciting, magical, melancholic, adventurous, or sexual. The events in
dreams are generally outside the control of the dreamer, with the exception of lucid dreaming, where
the dreamer is self-aware.[11] Dreams can at times make a creative thought occur to the person or give
a sense of inspiration.[12]

Ancient history

The Dreaming is a common term within the animist creation narrative of indigenous Australians for a
personal, or group, creation and for what may be understood as the "timeless time" of formative
creation and perpetual creating.[13]
The ancient Sumerians in Mesopotamia have left evidence of dream interpretation dating back to at
least 3100 BC.[14][15] Throughout Mesopotamian history, dreams were always held to be extremely
important for divination[15][16] and Mesopotamian kings paid close attention to them.[15][14] Gudea,
the king of the Sumerian city-state of Lagash (reigned c. 2144–2124 BC), rebuilt the temple of Ningirsu
as the result of a dream in which he was told to do so.[15] The standard Akkadian Epic of Gilgamesh
contains numerous accounts of the prophetic power of dreams.[15] First, Gilgamesh himself has two
dreams foretelling the arrival of Enkidu.[15] Later, Enkidu dreams about the heroes' encounter with the
giant Humbaba.[15] Dreams were also sometimes seen as a means of seeing into other worlds[15] and it
was thought that the soul, or some part of it, moved out of the body of the sleeping person and actually
visited the places and persons the dreamer saw in his or her sleep.[17] In Tablet VII of the epic, Enkidu
recounts to Gilgamesh a dream in which he saw the gods Anu, Enlil, and Shamash condemn him to
death.[15] He also has a dream in which he visits the Underworld.[15]

The Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II (reigned 883–859 BC) built a temple to Mamu, possibly the god of
dreams, at Imgur-Enlil, near Kalhu.[15] The later Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (reigned 668–c. 627 BC) had
a dream during a desperate military situation in which his divine patron, the goddess Ishtar, appeared to
him and promised that she would lead him to victory.[15] The Babylonians and Assyrians divided dreams
into "good," which were sent by the gods, and "bad," sent by demons.[16] A surviving collection of
dream omens entitled Iškar Zaqīqu records various dream scenarios as well as prognostications of what
will happen to the person who experiences each dream, apparently based on previous cases.[15][18]
Some list different possible outcomes, based on occasions in which people experienced similar dreams
with different results.[15] Dream scenarios mentioned include a variety of daily work events, journeys to
different locations, family matters, sex acts, and encounters with human individuals, animals, and
deities.[15]

In ancient Egypt, as far back as 2000 BC, the Egyptians wrote down their dreams on papyrus. People
with vivid and significant dreams were thought blessed and were considered special.[19] Ancient
Egyptians believed that dreams were like oracles, bringing messages from the gods. They thought that
the best way to receive divine revelation was through dreaming and thus they would induce (or
"incubate") dreams. Egyptians would go to sanctuaries and sleep on special "dream beds" in hope of
receiving advice, comfort, or healing from the gods.[20]