dreams.
what you need to know
NREM (Non Rapid Eye Movement) NREM 1: - accounts for about 5% of our sleep cycle - is the "transition period" from awake to asleep NREM 2: - accounts for about 45% of our sleep cycle - works to consolidate memories... usually those that are less important, like what you had for lunch three Tuesdays ago NREM 3: - accounts for 20ish % (decreases as we age) of our sleep cycle - is the deepest stage of sleep - is where growth and repair hormones are released (makes us grow, heals paper cuts, and all that good stuff) REM (Rapid Eye Movement) During REM, the most conscious stage of sleep, brain activity increases and we are the most aware of our dreams. What is super cool is that if we wake up during this 10-minute chunk of sleep, we are most likely to remember our dreams. Scientists have several hypotheses of why this is, but nobody knows for certain, Additionally, if observing a sleeper in REM, you can see their eyeballs moving underneath their eyelids. Dopaminergic Activation One of the chemicals released in our brain that is released and makes us feel happy is called dopamine. This neurotransmitter (chemical produced and transferred throughout our brain) has interesting cyclical patterns during sleep. It is thought that during the peak of our dream consciousness, (the transition form NREM 3 to REM) dopamine levels are highest, and this is partially why we remember our dreams better if we wake up during this period. |
dream theories: why do we dream?
REM Sleep Observation:
materials needed: 1. sleeper 2. timer how to test it out: knowing that REM usually happens 90-110 minutes after falling asleep, set a timer for 90 minutes after the "sleeper" falls asleep and silently go check on them. If they are in REM, you will be able to see their eyes moving in all sorts of directions underneath their eyelids. If you gently wake this person up during this process, they also might be able to remember their dreams, and then if they write them down, more and more details might come back to them. 3 Primary Goals of Sleep:
1. during sleep, our neurons actually shrink to let toxins (cerebrospinal fluids) flow out of our brains. this replenishes brain functions. 2. During sleep, growth and repair hormones are released, which make our muscles and bodies grow taller and stronger, and repairs any damaged tissues. 3. during sleep our memories "prune" or consolidate to make more room for new information to be stored in the future. |
memory
![]() three main types of memories:
1. short-term 2. long-term 3. false-memories the first two are pretty self-evident, but false-memories are super interesting. False memories are recalling information that was not actually present. An example of this is the Mandela effect. |
activities to try:
1. short-term memory test 2. False Memories --> directions: using these lists of words, read all non-critical words to the participant. www3.nd.edu/~memory/OLD/Materials/DRM.pdfchoose a list to read to participant out loud. wait 30 seconds, and ask them to recall the words. If they name the critical word, or another related word that was actually not on the list, this is an example of a false memory. repeat this with as many lists as you choose, with different participants and time intervals (one minute, two minutes, etc). You can even make your own list to test out! |
learn about our memory center: the hippocampus |