Understanding Dreams and the Brain's Chemistry

Dreams can occur in different stages of sleep, activating different brain areas and involving varied brain chemistry. In REM sleep, secondary visual areas are activated due to the absence of visual input, while the motor cortex is activated, providing a sense of movement in dreams. The limbic system is engaged, leading to emotional experiences in dreams. Deactivation of the prefrontal cortex explains the absence of executive functions in dreams. While we are gaining insight into how brain areas collaborate to create dream features, the selection of specific images, their integration, and the relationship between dreams and memory remain mysteries.