Escaping and building new things have always been a promise of happiness we relate to dreams. Sometimes we wish we could achieve our deepest desires but have never been brave enough to go get them, like the main character of the indie film The Good Night (2007). When the protagonist starts to question his reality, he chooses to search for perfect scenarios in his dreams that make him feel successful and whole. Following along the path of Vanilla Sky or Inception, this possibility delivers beneficial and chaotic repercussions in his life, while remaining a relatable situation.
Still, we might be surprised to find out that this idea does not belong exclusively to the world of fiction. It can become part of our reality when we least expect but need it most. Medical and scientific research has been dedicated to thoroughly study what happens before and after sleep. They’ve reached unbelievable conclusions and have published these findings in several academic journals.
Among these developments we can list six that seem to be widely supported or even proven. As more discoveries are made regarding our dreams, our perception of reality and the unconscious deepens.
The Earth’s magnetism can affect our dream patterns.
Our planet’s magnetic field is considered to be one of the greatest factors of what can influence people’s sleep. A ongoing study seems to prove that low versus high magnetic activity results in different dream subjects.
Outside smells and sounds can change our slumber
Anything that occurs around us as we sleep can effectively transform the plot of our dream or nightmare. It may come off like a bad cliché, but if our ears perceive music, our dream can suddenly be about a concert. If there are roses nearby, it’s highly likely that they’ll be part of the story.
Nightmares can be shared
You might have heard about how twin siblings have similar habits, interests, and even phobias. Obviously genetics plays an important role within this situation. But did you know that these pairs of siblings might also have the same nightmares?
Black and White TV changes the color of your dreams
It might sound like a line from a Sci-Fi movie, but according to a study from 2008, the way we watch the small screen can affect our unconscious perception of reality.
Cheese creates dreams
The British Cheese Board was part of a study that revealed that eating the dairy product can have an effect when we sleep. Apparently this is due to tryptophan, an amino acid that normalizes rest and stress levels.
Sleeping facedown results in erotic dreams
One of the most striking declarations seems to be that people who sleep on their stomachs change their breathing by putting pressure on their chests. This ultimately causes a likelihood of pleasure-filled dreams.
We still have a long way to go in terms of scientific and psychological research. But it seems that what we keep finding is always something even more surprising.
Dreams are our mind’s way of processing reality in a complex world. You might be interested in having a look at Rosa Basurto’s Dream Portraits or finding out how music can give you lucid dreams.
Source: Mental Floss
Translated by María Suárez
