When attempting to analyse and interpret your dreams, it is important to know that every human being, of every age, and from every part of the world will experience the 4 stages of sleep and dream anywhere from four to seven times each and every night. There is even evidence that babies experience dream sleep while still in their mother’s womb. What they dream about, of course, is a mystery. What animals dream about is a mystery as well, but most mammals dream as well.
It is a good idea to have an understanding of what happens when we are sleeping and the function of dream sleep within the 4 stages of sleep. Dream sleep is a distinct part of the sleep cycle, different in almost every way from other types of sleep.
In a typical night humans may go through several sleep cycles. In each of these sleep cycles there are four stages. An average eight hour night of sleep could contain four or more separate sleep cycles. with an average sleep cycle lasting between one and half hours to two hours.
At any of the four stages of sleep dreams can happen, but the ones most likely to be remembered and be the most vivid in the morning, occur during the REM stage of sleep. This sleep stage is generally referred to as REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. The name comes from the eye movements that are observed during this stage of sleep.
It is possible and even likely that the same person will experience several different dreams every night as the sleep cycle repeats itself four or more times during sleep . In most cases, however, the only dreams that are remembered are those that take place closest to waking. Not remembering dreams, however, does not mean they have not occurred.
The 4 Stages Of Sleep
Stage 1
During the first stage of sleep, the sleeper’s eyes move back and forth in an erratic fashion. For this reason, this stage of sleep is referred to as REM, or rapid eye movement, sleep. This stage generally occurs from 90-100 minutes after the initial onset of sleep. During this period of sleep, the blood pressure rises and the heart rate and respiration speeds up and may become erratic as well. During this stage of sleep, the voluntary muscles become paralysed. This stage of sleep is the one in which the majority of dreaming occurs.
Stage 2
Stage two is a much deeper level of sleep than stage one. It is in stage two of sleep that dreams begin to form. At this point in the dream cycle, there are usually no clear images. Dreams at this stage mostly consist of vague ideas and thoughts drifting through the dreamer’s mind. The sleeper will continue and enter stage three.
Stage 3
Stage three is a still deeper sleep. In stage three of the sleep cycle the sleeper’s muscles have all relaxed, and his or her heart rate and respiration have both slowed down. The sleeper’s blood pressure also falls during this stage of sleep, and the breathing is even and steady. During this deep stage of sleep, the sleeper would be very difficult to awaken. Typically the sleeper can only be awakened by a very loud noise or the shout of his or her name. After a time, the sleeper will enter the final stage of sleep.
Stage 4
Stage four of sleep, also known as REM, or rapid eye movement sleep, is the deepest stage of sleep, and the one in which the most dreams occur. During this stage of sleep it is very difficult indeed to wake the sleeper. During REM sleep, the blood pressure and heart rate will fluctuate, and the sleeper’s brain will light up. Studies of dreaming patients have shown that more brain activity occurs when we are dreaming than when we are awake.
It is the rapid movements of the eyes under their closed lids that give REM sleep its name, and these eye movements are the distinguishing characteristic of dream sleep, and proof that dreams are occurring. Most REM sleep lasts only for about 10 minutes. After that time, the sleeper returns to the deep sleep that characterizes stage four of the sleep cycle. The sleeper will return after a time to a period of REM sleep, then cycle back into stage four. This process is usually repeated from four to seven times a night.
Through their work with volunteers who agree to be awakened during REM sleep, researchers know that dreaming occurs during all four to seven sessions of REM sleep.Those awakened during REM sleep generally provide very vivid descriptions of those dreams, as do those who awaken naturally during a particularly vivid, intense or frightening dream.