Dreams and creative problem‐solving

Abstract

Dreams have produced art, music, novels, films, mathematical proofs, designs for architecture, telescopes, and computers. Dreaming is essentially our brain thinking in another neurophysiologic state-and therefore it is likely to solve some problems on which our waking minds have become stuck. This neurophysiologic state is characterized by high activity in brain areas associated with imagery, so problems requiring vivid visualization are also more likely to get help from dreaming. This article reviews great historical dreams and modern laboratory research to suggest how dreams can aid creativity and problem-solving.

Our dreams, our selves: automatic analysis of dream reports

“…Regardless of a person’s everyday experiences, 80% of dreams involve some forms of negative emotions. This considerable presence of negative emotions had been explained with what sleep scientists called the ‘nocturnal therapist’ theory [ 29 , 30 ]. According to this theory, dreams can be seen as a ‘nocturnal therapist’ that helps a dreamer identify worries and concerns.…”

Acute Effects and the Dreamy State Evoked by Deep Brain Electrical Stimulation of the Amygdala: Associations of the Amygdala in Human Dreaming, Consciousness, Emotions, and Creativity

“…The generation of novel and not-previously experienced unique imagery via ES of the amygdala is especially intriguing as it suggests that the human brain may rely on the same neural network to generate both dream and creativity related mental imagery, thoughts, and concepts. This shared network may support the idea that dreaming in sleep might enrich the creativity of insight and responses to daytime challenges (Barrett, 2017;Llewellyn and Desseilles, 2017). If so, this neural network involving the amygdala as a crucial node is evidently vital for the continuing survival and development of individuals, societies, and the human race as a whole.…”

Meditative in-action: an endogenous epistemic venture

“…Keeping the complexity of the generative model as low as possible, while maintaining a good accuracy, allows for an optimally adaptive strategy characterized not only by fitting responses to habitual situations, but also by adequate pliancy when facing the unexpected. In fact, cognitive flexibility has been linked to creativity Runco (2004) and the relationship between the latter and dreaming Barrett (2017) is likely not coincidental, in light of the above mentioned role of REM sleep in minimizing the complexity of the generative model. Interestingly, many spiritual traditions also point to the necessity of an unlearning process, in order to escape the limitations imposed by a well-established, but ossified cognitive structure.…”