Many assume that dreams offer a deep insight into their lives, leaving them desperate to remember anything they had dreamt upon waking up each morning. However, dreams do not grant any sort of valuable insight into a person’s life, rather, dreams are the result of leftover brain activity that reflect the events of the day prior.

  Dreams occur during REM sleep while the brain remains active. This activity is primarily the random firing of neurons in the brain caused by the activity already present during the day. Often, the dreams individuals experience revolve around what they thought about most during the day or what may be stressing them at the time. This means each dream is merely the brain deciphering random activity into what has previously been processed.

  Numerous psychologists have attempted to make a career out of studying dreams, which has resulted in only a rudimentary understanding of the biological side, while studies meant to prove possible deeper meaning have come up inconclusive. Sigmund Freud actively interpreted dreams as a part of his research, his interpretations being primarily nonsense, not based in scientific research. 

  Scientists have tried proving that dreams have meaning throughout the history of psychological study. In that time, all they have been able to prove is that dreams are the result of brain activity, something that should be obvious to most functioning people. The lack of concrete evidence, along with dreams’ tendency to utilize what was most present in the brain during the day, proves that dreams lack valuable insight. Instead of fixating on meaningless nighttime visions, people need to start focusing on what is actually important in their lives and move on.