Introduction

Sleep is important to every living organism, but yet it is so misunderstood. It is important for others to understand what a good night’s rest should feel like for your body. Sleep is instrumental in such things as muscle regeneration, long-term memory formation, skills acquisition, problem-solving, emotional control, and creativity. We benefit greatly from sleep but on the other side of the spectrum sleep deprivation can cause harmful effects on our body. If you leave lights on while you sleep, play music through your stereo, or use your bedroom for more than just sleeping purposes you are already in the wrong boat. While your body is temporarily in a resting state, your brain stays active. Sleep is a time for the brain to regenerate and balance our body’s internal functions without being consciously aware of external stimuli. Chronic sleep deprivation diminishes the brains ability to learn new information, and can lead to emotional issues like depression and aggression. Scientists have discovered over 88 different clinical sleeping disorders that alter the body’s natural cycle; included are stages 1-4 and REM sleep which is where dreams occur. Sleeping is key for dreaming. To me, dreaming is the most interesting part about sleep. Rapid eye movement (REM) was discovered in 1953 by University of Chicago researchers Eugene Aserinsky, a graduate student in physiology, and Nathaniel Kleitman, Ph.D., chair of physiology. Dreaming is hypothesized to be made by our fears, wishes, and often include familiar objects and surrounding. Scientists are unaware of why we dream but many have stepped up to put their hypothesis to test. Sigmund Freud believed that nothing you do occurs by chance; every action and thought is motivated by your unconscious at some level. He often said “dreams are the royal road to the unconscious.” He also believed that the unconscious expresses itself in a symbolic language that we had to reveal the underlying meaning for ourselves.  Sleeping at night is something that I struggle with personally, and learning more about how sleep rejuvenates the body and mind also pushes my curiosity into knowing what activities my brain partakes in while I’m asleep, researching and testing techniques used to help cure sleeping disorders, and what benefits all of the stages of sleep provide for me. Sleep has outlived evolution, and is no joking matter.