How the brain uses dreams to distort reality - study
Scientists have found that the brain does not reproduce experiences verbatim, but reassembles pieces of reality, mixing memories, imagination, emotions, and expectations. The study involved 287 people, with over 3,700 dream records analyzed. Dreams turned out to be structured by personal characteristics and life experiences.
Scientists have discovered how the brain uses dreams to distort reality. In a study published on the Science Daily portal, 287 people aged 18 to 70 participated. Over two weeks, they recorded their dreams and daily events. Researchers analyzed over 3,700 dream records and daily impressions. Using natural language processing technologies, they found that dreams are not entirely random: their structure is determined by a person's individual characteristics and life experience. The brain does not reproduce experiences verbatim, but reassembles pieces of reality, connecting memories with imagination, expectations, and possible future events. People with wandering thoughts described more fragmented dreams, while those who attached personal meaning to dreams had richer and more detailed ones. Comparison with data from the pandemic period showed that during the height of isolation, dreams were brighter and more anxious, but over time the intensity subsided, reflecting the psyche's adaptation to stress.