2. There is a lot of research that has been done providing evidence that we learn while we sleep Experiments have associated intense periods of daytime learning with longer periods of sleep that night, and particularly with dreaming. People awakened repeatedly from their dreams don't retain much of what they learned the day before

3. No one knows all the purposes of sleeping and dreaming, although lack of sleep can be lethal. Sleep controls heat regulation and appetite. If you're cold and hungry, you won't dream much, if at all. Sleep rests the body but not the mind. MRI pictures show furious activity from the base of the brain to its wrinkled covering, the cortex, or thinking dome.

4. Circadian Rhythm When a biological clock, in this case the sleep-wake cycle, is set for about 25-hour period it is referred to as the circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythms control the rise and fall of physiological responses such as temperature, and the start and stop of responses like going to sleep and waking up. This rhythm is due to some rhythmical activity of the hypothalamus. Environmental Arousal When our body is in a state of high arousal, we cannot sleep or we have trouble staying a sleep. Stress, excitement, and drugs that increase arousal can interfere with the onset of sleep as well as staying a sleep. Sleep Deprivation When we are deprived of one night's sleep, we go to sleep sooner and stay asleep longer, but there are no physical or behavioral changes. Sleep deprivation can also effect task performance.

5. REM= rapid eye movement Usually begins around 90 minutes after sleep begins. During REM the brain waves change and the heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure all increase drastically. Tremendous use of oxygen in the brain during REM We have 4-6 periods of REM during sleep Skeletal muscles also go completely limp to keep us from acting out in our dreams REM is also associated with the erection of penis and engorgement of the clitoris. REM increases in its time intervals as we sleep making our longest dreams the ones we experience right before we wake

6. Snakes Teeth falling out School and Exams Bodies of water Pregnancy Falling Fantasy Death Being chased Symbolic colors Crashing and Accidents

7. Common Theories… 1. To restore our body and mind. 2. To help with learning and memory. 3. To keep the brain at the right level of awareness/rest during sleep. 4. To allow the mind to handle disturbances in the night without waking up. 5. To keep our sense of self and wholeness through sleep. 6. To allow ourselves some time to explore new and unusual areas of ourselves. 7. To resolve conflicts that occur during the day. Some scientists believe that dreams help consolidate the memories and learning that took place the previous day. Others see dreams as a mechanism for allowing busy brain cells to recharge their depleted stocks of transmitter chemicals.

8. http://www.csun.edu/~vcpsy00h/students/ dreams.htmhttp://www.csun.edu/~vcpsy00h/students/ dreams.htm http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/1996 /02.08/ResearchLinksSl.htmlhttp://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/1996 /02.08/ResearchLinksSl.html http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/library/i dx_science.htm Anatomy and Physiology text book