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The enigma of dreams: between science, emotion and the illusion of predicting the future
Every night, when we sleep, the brain opens the door to a universe as familiar as it is inexplicable: dreams. Sometimes they unsettle, at other times they console, and occasionally they surprise us with their realism to the point of seeming ‘prophetic’. Science, however, insists: they do not predict the future, although they do reveal much about how the mind works.
Since Freud y Jung, who saw in them a language of the unconscious, theories have changed. Today it is known that during sleep the brain reorganises memories and emotions, and in that process creates stories that mix experiences, fears, and desires.
Some hypotheses suggest that dreaming acts as a kind of training against threats, while others highlight its role in managing emotional stress. During the pandemic, for example, dreams filled with anxiety became much more common.
There are also so-called lucid dreams, in which the dreamer is aware of dreaming and can alter the storyline. Although useful for combating nightmares, experts warn that practising them excessively can harm sleep quality.
Why do we believe in them so much? Because we experience them as our own, accompanied by intense emotions, and because we only remember those that fit with reality. Scientists’ conclusion is clear: dreams are not hidden messages or predictions, but rather a privileged mirror of our emotions and learning.