• Question: Why Do We Dream?

    Asked by LCLAY to Ashley, Bernard, Carsten, MariaMagdalena, Monique on 9 Nov 2015. This question was also asked by haadia, Aaliyah, Abi.A.
    • Photo: Ashley Hughes

      Ashley Hughes answered on 9 Nov 2015:

      A bit out of my field (and I guess the rest of the scientists in this zone) but I read somewhere that it was a trait that gave an evolutionary advantage. We can dream about problems (I guess in the early days stuff like how best to climb that tree for the coconuts, or how do I best kill a rabbit) and it helps us figure out solutions, in essence because we can’t die if we mess it up it gives the brain freedom to think outside of the box at novel solutions.

      I’m 95% certain that studies have been done demonstrating this with people being better at solving puzzles if they are allowed to sleep on it first

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