The Mind at Night: the New Science of How and Why We Dream.

THE MIND AT NIGHT: The New Science of How and Why We Dream ANDREA ROCK

We spend a little bit of every day creating dreams, yet we remember little about them and are often stymied by what they mean. As science journalist Rock reports, the advent of magnetic resonance imaging has greatly advanced our understanding of the dreaming mind and consciousness in general. She considers the past 50 years of research in this field, beginning with the discovery of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which first gave researchers a window to the working brain within the unconscious body. Studies in the mid-20th century both defined the various stages of sleep and attempted to reconcile the findings with Sigmund Freud's idea that dreams stem from the mind's attempt to censor or disguise taboo wishes that begin during childhood. Brain imaging shifted the focus of dream research dramatically. Rock cites a host of fascinating brain-imaging studies that are shaping our modern understanding of dreaming. She explains that some researchers now suggest that dreaming is a form of nocturnal therapy--when a person sorts through the emotional trials and tribulations of one day in order to prepare for those of the next. An alternative hypothesis is that people and animals use REM sleep to work through things they've learned, for instance, a rat might rerun a maze. Rock provides a thought-provoking look at an unusual but fascinating line of research. Basic 2004, 224 p., hardcover, $26.00.