Is this possible?

[ld411]

Is it possible to dream while you are not in your REM stages?

[Burke]

Yes, it happens only rarely but it has happened.

[ld411]

Can you force this to happen?

[Max ツ]

I don't think so. Also, how do you FORCE yourself to dream? The only time you dream while in non-REM is when you see all those semi-dream visuals and the like. Here's one for ya, I was in non-REM, ABOUT to fall back to sleep, and I heard some voices. I was face-down on my pillow, so I could see nothing. But I kinda hallucinated, and saw this classroom where I was sitting, and my teacher was yelling at me, "No martial arts allowed!!!" It's very faint, but it IS nevertheless.

[ld411]

Oh, ok I understand. Haha, seems pretty weird.

[Wednesday]

Lucidmax that sounds like hypnagogic imagery. I had some the other day it's crazy. I was sleeping in a chair (I don't think I ever got anywhere near REM... it was a very light nap) and as the time arrived to get up (I imagined in my somewhat delerious state) I had a 'false awakening' where I opened my eyes. I saw a plausible vivid scene in front of me -- a chair in front of me etc. But the thing was, at my feet there was my old bag I hadn't used for a couple of years. So I had enough reason at that point to realise it was an hallucination and actually opened my eyes. And yes it's totally possible to have dreams in NREM. REM is just the most dense.

[Max ツ]

Lucidmax that sounds like hypnagogic imagery. It WAS hypnagogic imagery. It's fun to turn lucid during these. Feels like you are stuck between reality and dreams. Edit : It was a WHOLE scene, not just some random images. So I guess that somewhat qualifies as a dream state?

[Wednesday]

Yeah true. I don't know of any substantial or essential distinction between dreaming and hypnagogic imagery... so they could stack up to a point where they're proper dreams.

[SmokingMirror]

I happen to wake up ten minutes (or less) after I have fallen asleep and remember extensive scenes.

[Glorfindel_III]

At ANY point during the night I can talk to my GF and lead her into a dream if she wasn't already in one. She is a very deep sleeper and will actually talk to me whilst dreaming, and I'm sure many of these times are during NREM. like when she first falls asleep about 10 minutes after the light's turned off.

[denverelrick]

Well my friend if you had surf this site a little I am sure you gone find the answer of your question. Any ways here I provide you what exactly the site has explained. "The most profound discernible characteristic of REM sleep is the bursts of rapid eye movement while dreaming. Although dreaming occurs during the other stages of sleep, the most vivid dreaming occurs during the REM stage."

[Tysho]

I have experienced dream like sequences when I was awake, when I was in a class room and finished my work I would try to take a nap but I could never fully fall asleep ((unlike the girl next to me who slept all the time hahaha)) I could here every body and all of that, but after a little bit the sound would get a little distant and whatever I was thinking of would just run on without me thinking actively, like a dream, things would occur and if it was strong enough occasionally I would twitch or my arm would jerk about for a second, bringing me back.

[Wednesday]

I just read about some qualitative differences between REM and NREM dreaming... apparently the latter is "less vivid, visual, emotional and storylike than REM dreams". And this site - http://academic.pgcc.edu/~mhspear/sl...s/nrsleep.html - says its "consist of brief, fragmentary impressions".

[Waking]

You guys should look at Freuds findings with dreams. During REM sleep the hippocampus, (part of the brain dealing with memories, temporary and long-term.) becomes active. This activity is the best explanation we have thus far as to why we dream. Dreams are the representation of memories, old and new, Being sorted through, recycled, and housed. Most Psychologists will say that dreams are a combination of daily memories, and a goal that you have, e.x. I want to be a rockstar etc . . .

[Wednesday]

Freud's theory is popular... but the problem-solving model and the random neuroactivation model are also popular... I'd bet, as is usually the case, that they all have an element of truth, given that alone none of them are entirely convincing.

[Waking]

True Wednesday, however, Freud is currently being dwarfed by Carl Jung as far as the commonly accepted psychologist stand point on dream interpretation goes.

[Wednesday]

That's because Jung wasn't as anal-retentive as Freud While both of their theories are generally regarded as unscientific in academic psychology, Jung's holisitc approach definitely has more applicability to dream interpretation. I think that even though we might have to jettison the specificity of his archetypes in such interpretation, this is still in his spirit. He himself said something like "I am not a Jungian, I do not wish people to be Jungians. Above all I wish people to be themselves". The key is being honest about what you feel, in dreams as in waking life...