Date:19/09/97
Time: 23:30hours
R.E.M. and Dreams
R.E.M. (rapid eye movement) is a period of sleep (sleep can be divided into REM and non-REM
stages), whereby the person is believed to be dreaming. Researchers suggest that REM is almost
synonymous with dreaming (The Psychology of Being Human. Z.Rubin and E.B.
McNeil, 3rd Ed. 1981.). Through research, it has been suggested that REM sleep may help to
restore norepinephrine levels (these act as a transmitter substance) thereby restoring the
effectiveness of certain brain pathways. Brain levels of norepinephrine appear to be related to
memory, motor behaviour, mood and attention. Some people need more REM sleep in order to
replenish norepinephrine levels. Hence the suggestion that there is an association between
sleeping patterns and personality (The Psychology of Being Human. 1981).
Studies of Hartman (Ernest L.Hartman, 1973) indicated that there are personality differences
between short and long sleepers. Short sleepers (eg.Napolean Bonaparte) tended to be
- extroverted
- carefree and confident
- more productive, practical and
- leaders in
business and government, administrators and applied scientists.
Where as Long
sleepers( eg. Albert Einstein) tended to be - introverted
- anxious and
unsettled
- more creative (than short sleepers).
(The Psychology of Being Human.
1981).
Its not clear cut, whether the above is all true. Afterall, not many of us get the same amount
of sleep each day. Myself, I prefer to mix Western with Eastern theories. Such as using the theory
of Yin and Yang to define certain charateristics of an individual. Yin being the introverted
and Yang being the extroverted.
Dreams in short, are believed to
originate in the activity of different portions of the brain during REM sleep. According to Freud
there is the latent and manifest content of dreams. Latent being the
underlying meaning of the dream, and Manifest being the disguised form of the dream
which we remember upon awakening (The Psychology of Being Human. 1981).
More of
this another time..for if I do not stop..I shall not get to sleep.
A tired, bleary eyed
Soosh
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