This is episode 6 of a 6-part special series on sleep with Dr. Matthew Walker, Ph.D., a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley and a leading public educator on sleep for mental and physical health, learning and human performance. In this episode, we discuss dreaming, including the biological mechanism of dreams, what dreams mean and their role in daytime life. We explore how dreams can enhance our creativity and emotional well-being and help us resolve various challenges and dilemmas. We discuss how to remember and interpret your dreams and the abstractions/symbols frequently present in dreams.We also discuss nightmares and therapies to treat reoccurring nightmares. We explain what lucid dreaming is and if there are benefits or drawbacks to this type of dreaming.Dr. Walker also answers frequently asked audience questions and discusses snoring, body position, sleep supplements, sleep challenges due to aging, menopause, stopping racing thoughts, and how to fall back asleep if you wake in the middle of the night. For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.Thank you to our sponsorsAG1: https://drinkag1.com/hubermanBetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/hubermanLMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanHelix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/hubermanWHOOP: https://www.join.whoop.com/hubermanMomentous: https://livemomentous.com/hubermanTimestamps00:00:00 Dreaming00:01:13 Sponsors: BetterHelp, LMNT & Helix Sleep00:05:06 Dreams & REM Sleep00:12:20 Evolution of REM Sleep, Humans00:17:13 REM Sleep & PGO Waves; Dreams & Brain Activity00:24:26 Dreams, Images & Brain Activity; Sleepwalking & Sleep Talking00:30:51 Sponsor: AG100:32:04 Dream Benefits, Creativity & Emotional Regulation; Challenge Resolution00:41:27 Daily Experience vs. Dreaming, Emotions00:45:08 Dream Interpretation & Freud, Dream Relevance00:52:59 Abstractions, Symbols, Experience & Dreams; “Fuzzy Logic”01:00:28 Sponsor: Whoop01:01:36 Nightmares; Recurring Nightmares & Therapy01:11:08 Targeted Memory Reactivation, Sounds & Nightmares01:15:38 Odor, Paired Associations, Learning & Sleep01:18:53 Fear Extinction, Memory & Sleep; Tool: Remembering Dreams01:25:38 Lucid Dreaming, REM Sleep, Paralysis01:32:33 Lucid Dreaming: Benefits? Unrestorative Sleep?01:44:07 Improve Lucid Dreaming01:49:30 Tool: Negative Rumination & Falling Asleep01:53:41 Tools: Body Position, Snoring & Sleep Apnea; Mid-Night Waking & Alarm Clock01:58:43 Sleep Banking?; Tool: Falling Back Asleep, Rest02:05:53 Tool: Older Adults & Early Waking; Sleep Medications02:11:25 Tool: Menopause & Sleep Disruption, Hot Flashes02:15:06 Remembering Dreams & Impacts Sleep Quality?02:18:32 Tool: Sleep Supplements02:26:48 Tool: Most Important Tip for Sleep02:30:56 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network NewsletterDisclaimer