Science tells us that everyone dreams-even animals and birds.
Some of us can dream in vibrant colors and recall every detail
the next morning, while few claim that they never dream at all.
There are also those of us who dream some of the time and can
remember the dream in sketchy details. Did you know that we spend
One third of our lives sleeping? Not only that but we spend two to
three hours per night dreaming. So when do we dream? there are four
stages to sleep:
Stage 1
The first stage of sleep is a very light sleep. you can easily be
woken and might deny have been asleep upon awakening. Ever heard someone say
''I wasn't asleep I just had my eyes closed?'' That is because the brainwaves
are going from waking frequency to a more relaxed phase, known as a alpha state.
This is when the body temperature,heart and pulse rate drop slightly and the
eyes begin to roll. Drifting thoughts and floating sensations as well as vivid
pictures flow through the brain. Stage one could last for five to ten minutes.
Stage 2
In stage 2 the brain waves keep on slowing down. this is much deeper sleep than
stage 1 and it is when dreams start to brew. although there are no clear images,
thoughts and ideas float in and out of the sleepers mind. The brain frequency has
reached a level theta. Snoring is common at this stage and there's a decreased heart
rate, pulse, blood pressure and temperature. Breathing can be shallow and irregular.
Even had that twitch or jerk but still unable to shake yourself awake? this is the
stage in which it happens. More importantly the eyes are now moving back and forth
rapidly beneath your eyelids. This is know as REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, and
last for a few minutes the first time it occurs. if one is waken at this time the
dream can usually be remembered.
Stage 3
This is a deep sleep stage, with stage 4 being more intense. These stages are known
as slow wave or Delta sleep, These long, regular delta waves produce a deep dreamless
sleep. These long, regular delta waves produce a deep dreamless sleep. The sleepers muscles are totally relaxed and the heart rate and blood pressure has slowed down. Breathing is steady and even, and it's going to be very difficult to wake up. Delta waves can last up to an hour before the dreamer goes into the deeper of Stage 4
Stage 4
This is the deepest sleep. It is virutally impossible to wake up from this stage of sleep. The sleeper's blood pressure and heart rate flucturate. There is an increased secretion of growth harmone(this is to restore body tissues). That is why it is so important for infants and children to get as much of this sleep as possible. This is the Stage when Dreams occur and REM is at it's best because the brain is in an active state. The first REM period will last approximately ten minutes. After that, the sleeper goes back into stage 4 sleep. Then it's back to REM stage after a short time and the cycle is repeated untill the sl;eeper wakes up. The final REM sleep last about one hour.
Theses four Phases of sleep repeat four or five times during the night, approximately every 90 to 120 minutes. So a person may complete up to five cycles in a typical night's sleep. The REM stages last longer, the more one sleeps. The longest uniterruptied period of dreaming occurs in the early morning and may last up to one hour. That's why you remember dreams most vividly upon awakening.
