Exploring the Connection between Sleep and Dreams: An In-Depth Analysis

Understanding the Sleep Cycle and Dream Recall

We move from light sleep to deep sleep to REM sleep. Most people have four to five cycles per night. This, of course, can change depending on whether we work days or nights, or if we stay up for long periods of time. The point in the sleep cycle in which you wake up is what determines whether or not you remember your dreams. Give yourself a few days to complete this activity. Place a pen and paper by your bed before you fall asleep. As soon as you wake up, write down whatever you can remember from your dreams. If you can’t remember anything, try waking up 15 minutes earlier the next day. Play with this 15-minute time interval until you can remember. If you can’t remember anything even after experimenting with your wake-up time, you will still be able to answer the questions. For your paper, discuss how much you were able to remember from your dream(s). Were any of your dreams tied to memories, whether it was a childhood memory or something you read the previous day? Also, address the following questions: Why do we dream? At which point in the sleep cycle do we dream? Do people need to dream? What happens if we don’t dream? How can medications affect our dreams? How are dreams and memory connected? Is our memory affected if we sleep poorly or if we don’t dream? What are some ways we can enhance our sleep and our dreams? Your response should be 750 to 1000 words (approximately 3 to 4 pages, excluding the cover page and references). Use double spacing and a 12 point font, and include at least two sources other than those in the reading assignments. All references should be included on a separate page and formatted using APA style. rading criteria Description of your dreams You clearly and effectively describe how much you were able to remember of your dreams and if you had any dreams that were tied to memories. You describe how much you were able to remember of your dreams and if you had any dreams that were tied to memories. You vaguely describe how much you were able to remember of your dreams and if you had any dreams that were tied to memories. You insufficiently describe how much you were able to remember of your dreams and if you had any dreams that were tied to memories. null Why we dream You clearly and accurately explain why we dream and where dreaming occurs in the sleep cycle. You explain why we dream and where dreaming occurs in the sleep cycle. You partially explain why we dream and where dreaming occurs in the sleep cycle. You inaccurately explain why we dream and where dreaming occurs in the sleep cycle. null Need to dream You adeptly discuss whether or not people need to dream and what happens if we don't dream; you fully explain how medications can affect dreams. You discuss whether or not people need to dream and what happens if we don't dream; you explain how medications can affect dreams. You minimally discuss whether or not people need to dream and what happens if we don't dream; you weakly explain how medications can affect dreams. You deficiently discuss whether or not people need to dream and what happens if we don't dream; you barely explain how medications can affect dreams. null Dreams and memory You thoroughly and accurately explain how our dreams and memory are connected. You satisfactorily explain how our dreams and memory are connected. You partially explain how our dreams and memory are connected. You insufficiently explain how our dreams and memory are connected. null Enhancing sleep and dreams You substantively discuss ways we can enhance our sleep and our dreams. You discuss ways we can enhance our sleep and our dreams. You partially discuss ways we can enhance our sleep and our dreams. You inadequately discuss ways we can enhance our sleep and our dreams. null Documentation in APA style Your paper has outstanding support: you meet or exceed the minimum requirement for number of references; your sources are all credible; and you faultlessly attribute them in APA style. Your paper has appropriate support: you meet the minimum requirement for number of references; your sources are generally credible; and you satisfactorily attribute them in APA style. Your paper has minimal support: you meet the minimum requirement for number of references; some of your sources are credible; and your use of APA style has numerous small errors. Your paper has inadequate support: you do not meet the minimum requirement for number of references, and/or most or all of your sources are not credible; your use of APA style has major errors. null Mechanics You write in complete, well-constructed sentences with faultless grammar, word choice, punctuation, and spelling; writing is sharp, coherent, and demonstrates sophisticated clarity. You write in complete sentences with mostly correct grammar, word choice, punctuation, and spelling; minor errors may exist but do not compromise meaning. You write in unclear sentences with significant errors in grammar, word choice, punctuation, and spelling that may compromise meaning. You write in incomplete, incomprehensible sentences filled with serious errors in grammar, word choice, punctuation, or spelling. null