Dream and its interpretation: scientific perspective

Abstract

Dream is a mental activity that occurs during sleep. Its interpretation is common practice in many African cultures and this role is vested in unqualified persons, such as diviners, priests, and healers. Their unprofessional activities have led to dangerous consequences, such as anxiety, depression, loss of material possessions, bodily harm, family, or community conflicts, or even death. This review manuscript sought to unravel the mystery of dreams from a scientific perspective to educate the scientific community, especially in the developing world. This review manuscript unraveled the enigma of dreams by delving into the mechanisms underlying their occurrence, exploring the brain processes that shape their content, discussing different types of dreams, and examining the potential scientific basis for interpreting their significance. The scientific study of dreams and their interpretation has provided fascinating insights into the neural processes, cognitive functions, and emotional dimensions of this intriguing phenomenon.

Keywords: Dream; Interpretation; Non-rapid eye movement sleep; Rapid eye movement sleep; Scientific perspective.