1. STAGES OF SLEEP

2. What Happens When We Sleep?
Sleep occurs in a recurring cycle of 90 to 110 minutes and is divided into two categories: Non-REM (which is further split into four stages) and REM sleep.
There are four stages in the non-REM sleep.
REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement.

3. Brain Waves
Beta
Alpha
Theta
Delta

4. Stages of Sleep: Pre-sleep stage
Awake and Alert
Beta waves
Functions: calm, alert, active, ready to learn
May take about 15 minutes to go thru this stage
Adjust pillows, comforters, start to relax

5. Stages of Sleep: Pre-sleep stage
Awake – but Drowsy
Alpha waves
Functions: relaxed, harder to concentrate, want to go to sleep
Hypnogogic Hallucinations
Vivid images, bizarre
Jerky movements
Sensation of “falling”
“Bed gravity,” floating,

6. Stage 1 Sleep: Alpha to Theta Waves
Non-REM
Breathing slows down
Disengage from sensation
Vivid mental imagery– Everyday activities, not “bizarre” dreams

7. Stage 2: Theta – K complexes - Delta
Non-REM
Brief periods of brain activity
Small muscle twitches
Breathing rhythmical

8. Stage 3: Theta - Delta - Theta
Non-REM
Slow wave sleep
Probably a transition stage

9. Stage 4: Delta Waves – 100% Non-REM
Oblivious to outside world
Sleep-walking, sleep-talking occur here
Very difficult to wake up- but can have activities
Answer the phone, talk, etc…
Then…you ascend back up through these stages and enter your 1st dream

10. Then you ascend back up through these stages and enter Dream Sleep…

11. Dreams An individual will have approximately 4-5 dreams/night
hours of sleep time spent dreaming
They increase in length as the night progresses
Most mammals dream
Intense emotions, illogical, bizarre events are accepted

12. REM (Rapid Eye Movement)
Body functions during REM
Brain neurons fire more
Increased blood pressure
Increased respiration
Increased heart-rate
Body is paralyzed…
Nightmares occur now = frightening, unpleasant dreams
No sleep walking during REM

13. Why do we dream? Many theories – no one really knows??
Might relate to the idea that at this stage of rest we are…
Reviewing physical tasks
Learning, integrating and consolidating knowledge
Finding solutions to problems or working out difficult emotions
Finding inspiration: songs, math proofs, art work
Dealing with trauma – used as a coping mechanism
“Rebooting the system” – used to refresh the brain after a long day

14. Why do we dream? Con’t Rehearsing what to do in an emergency:
“Threat simulation” Dreams are a training ground in which animals and people rehearse what to do in an emergency so you are more prepared to act on instinct.
Two-thirds of all dreams involve some type of aggression
Physical fights
Verbal arguments
Car crashes
Falling or drowning
Missing a test or meeting
Being lost or trapped
Terrorist attacks

15. Theories of dreaming…
Freud – Dreams reflect unconscious urges, desires, unresolved childhood issues…
These problems are resolved in dreams
Manifest Content = The actual images in the dream.
Latent Content = The disguised psychological meaning that must be interpreted. “Wish Fulfillment”

16. Theories of dreaming… Activation – Synthesis Model
Dreams are products of brain neuron activity in the visual cortex, memory areas, and emotion areas.
Hippocampus and the Amygdala
No external stimulus; so brain tries to make sense of neuron activity = content of a “dream”
Explains randomness of dreams
Prefrontal cortex shuts down during REM
So, you have fewer inhibitions and don’t question illogical parts of dreams

17. Theories of dreaming… Inner Work by Robert A. Johnson
Based on Jungian theories
“The more we face the unconsciousness and to try to understand its content the more we derive a true sense of ourselves…”
Don’t take dreams/images literally
Dreams show us - in symbolic form - all the different personalities that are within us.
Each person in the dream represents an aspect of the dreamer…

18. “With great power comes great responsibility”
“Inner Work” Process
Make associations that link unconscious to the dream image.
- take your time
- work through each image
Connect images to inner self, ask “what part of me is that?”
Make big connections, ask “what is the central meaning?” “What is my dream advising?” “Does this teach me something about myself?”
Take action
- but don’t try and change the world
- small changes are better – think simple
“With great power comes great responsibility”

19. Theories of dreams… Crick Theory
Dreams “flush” out excessive information or thoughts
Toilet Bowl

20. Theories of dreaming… Information Processing
Dreams sift, sort, file, or fix the days experiences
Files needed info into long-term memory
Deletes unneeded info
“random access” like a computer’s memory

21. Theories of dreaming… Second Sightings by Judith Orloff, M.D.
Guidance Dreams:
Dreams try to tell you something or inform you
Offer solutions to problems, questions
Sort out emotions
“Fantasy life”

22. Theories of dreaming… Judith Orloff: Precognitive
Dreams foretell the future and may be difficult to understand

23. Theories of dreaming… Judith Orloff: Healing Theory
Show us where we are sick
Tell us how to get well
Physical and mental

24. Theories of dreaming… Pre-sleep Stimulation Theory
Dreams are a response to activities near bedtime
Watch a tv show and then dream about – or incorporate yourself into the show
Talk to a friend and then dream about them

25. Theories of dreaming… Telepathy Theory
Dreams convey messages or information from/to other people

26. Theories of dreaming… Carl Jung Doesn’t believe in symbols
Actual images are interpreted
Need to amplify content and add personal insight = “what is going on in my life?”
Think about cultural associations; religion, folk lore
Archetypes