Where Do Our Dreams Come From?

According to Stephanie Pappas, Live Science contributor, our dreams may come from two genes. A new study in mice found that these dream genes are essential for our phase of slumber that brings people some bizarro-world visions of taking high school math tests naked, losing teeth and soaring through the air.

Without the genes that are called Chrm 1 and Chrm 3, mammals wouldn’t experience their rapid eye movement (or REM sleep) when the brain is as active as it is during our wakefulness but the body is paralyzed. Researchers believe the discovery is important as poor sleep and psychiatric …read more