You’re late for an important exam, suddenly find yourself naked in public, or try in vain to run away from danger. Almost everyone knows such dreams, across cultures. But what do these dreams mean? Do they provide valuable clues that can be deciphered?
Neuroscientist Rahul Jandar provides an entertaining, multifaceted overview of what research knows about dreams, how they arise in the brain, and their meaning. (Almost) all people dream a lot, but even the most vivid dreams usually disappear immediately after waking up.
And that’s a shame. Because dreams are a different form of thinking: While logic is switched off during sleep, the limbic system measurably ramps up: We experience feelings much more intensely than when we are awake and the wildest associations seem possible. Dreams are a source of creativity, they give rise to ideas that would be discarded while awake. But dreams are also a playground for trying out strong feelings, fears and social situations – without any real risk.
However, what dreams mean cannot be looked up in a dream dictionary, but remains an individual question, emphasizes the author. He sees dreams as a human superpower: it’s worth writing them down. Dreams can help you perceive feelings more clearly and make better decisions in your life. Antonia Rötger
Rahul Jandial
Why we dream – What the brain reveals to us about our lives while we sleep
Rowohlt, 304 p., € 26,–
ISBN 978-3-498-00379-1