Danny Uppala

Ms. Lacey
06 February 2015
Research Paper Draft I
Working Title: A Plunge into the Phenomena of Human Dreams
It may come as a shock to many, but modern science still cannot provide a thorough explanation
as to why the human brain dreams and even sleeps. This is one of sciences greatest mysteries
concerning the human brain. The phenomenon of dreaming has captivated the hearts and minds
of mankind since the beginning of time. Dreams are a universal human fascination and
obsession, and the mysterious nature of this enigmatic wonder only adds to its prevalence in
human culture.
Dreaming is such a relatable action due to the fact that every human on earth dreams
night. Human spend a third of their life sleeping. Some might not remember his or her dreams
however everyone does in fact dream every time they enter a period of sleep. During this
remarkable phenomenon, the human brain can allow the dreamer to enter an alternate realm of
reality. Within this realm our own conscious is in communication with our senses and in most
cases this is involuntary. With the rare exception of lucid dreaming, the dreamer is not subject to
pick the contents of their dream.
There are many theories as to why the human brain dreams. To this very day there is still
no universal scientific consensus as to why dreams occur. There are many scientific as well as
philosophical hypotheses as to why we dream. The reason there is no universally accepted theory

is due to the fact that modern science simply cannot fully comprehend the capabilities the human
brain. The brain is the most mysterious and complex organ in the human body. Although there is
countless hypotheses, there are a few main scientific theories that many would argue are the best
presumptions as to why the human brain dreams. One of the most popular theories for human
dreaming is that the brain simply needs rest. Many would argue against this theory due to the fact
that during the process of dreaming modern technology has revealed extremely high neural
activity occurring. Another popular theory is that when one dreams and sleeps the brain is sorting
and associating memories acquired during the day as well as learning what is important and what
is not or forgettable. There is much evidence for this theory. A third theory is that the brain,
through the process of dreaming, is running simulations and problem solving strategies before
testing out these key actions in the real world.
Dreams have been a significant icon in all ages and cultures of mankind since the
beginning. There are few matters that every member of the human race can relate to and this
phenomenon is one of them. Dreams have attributed to beliefs, religions, and lifestyle of almost
every culture on the planet. Even in the modern culture of our very own country, dreams have an
iconic importance. Many would conjecture that the mysterious and enigmatic nature of the
phenomenon is the reason for this iconic status.
Dreams can be found in every aspect of pop culture. Countless movies, books, works of
literature, and music all devote tremendous prominence to the subject of dreaming.