Where does the labyrinth of dreams

Scientists long ago discovered that sleep promotes better learning. But this is their thirst for knowledge has not ended. Now, neuroscientists from Harvard Medical School decided to conduct an experiment "Labyrinth" on the content of dreams. On what basis are formed dreams? Is seen to have practical use in real life?
Biologists have for many years arguing about the evolutionary causes of the emergence of such a complex and unknown physiological process, like a dream. After plunging into it, a living creature is helpless in front of any danger.

Why do we see dreams? This question also still remains a mystery. Some scientists believe that the experiences that we experience during dreams, prepare your body and psyche to a repetition of such situations in reality. Others are inclined to believe that dreaming is somehow necessary for us to normal functioning of mechanisms of memory.

A new study shows how good dreams for the body, and supports the theory that sleep helps to consolidate their knowledge of the day and at the same time integrate them into what already exists.

Probably why Harvard neuroscientists Whomsley Erin (Erin Wamsley) and Robert Stikgold (Robert Stickgold) decided to experiment with the most sociable and active creatures - volunteers from my university.

First, they sit down in front of computers, and over 45 minutes of study participants were playing an easy game for the passage of the labyrinth. In the process, the scientists checked to see how the maze remembered volunteers asked them about the subject, encountered on the way, and offered to pave the path to it from different starting points.

Then, 50 participants made it possible to sleep a few hours, and the rest offered to watch videos. The activity of the brain of sleeping students supervised by an electroencephalogram. Some of them were questioned about the content of dreams after recovery, others specifically for this awakened. After that all participants had to comply with the job again.

All those who managed to get some sleep, have demonstrated a more confident and quick ability to navigate the maze, than those who sleep instead of watching videos. This is, in general, it is not surprising. The interest of scientists drew another moment: four out of the sleeping said he had seen a maze in a dream. And that they have been awarded substantially increased performance - the speed of the job increased by ten times or more compared to the other - both sleeping and awake - as volunteers.

Four of the sleeping students were told that they catch a glimpse of the image of the labyrinth, someone simply hear background music from a computer program. Researchers believe that the brain, most likely, integrate new information into existing memories.

Robert Stikgold notes that these dreams were not accurate depictions of the passage of the labyrinth. According to the scientist, the process is not automatically record the events, but rather putting them in the context of existing knowledge, established relationships, etc.

For example, one who saw the maze in a dream student recalled that, in addition, he dreamed of a cave full of bats, which he visited several years earlier. Stikgold explains: "It seems that the brain tries to understand that from previous experience may be helpful to make it easier to pass the labyrinth in the future."