Brain Basics
This is the body's main control center, made of billions of neurons.
What is the brain?
During sleep, the brain does this to remove unnecessary information and prepare for new learning.
What is processing/cleaning?
Dreams are a mix of images, sensations, and emotions that occur during this.
What is sleep?
In this type of dream, the dreamer becomes aware they are dreaming and can control what happens.
What is a lucid dream?
In this disorder, people physically act out their dreams because normal muscle function during REM fails.
What is REM Sleep Behavior Disorder?
The brain is protected by this structure made of 22 bones.
What is the skull?
This sleep stage is when most intense dreaming occurs, with high brain activity.
What is REM sleep?
Dreams can last from a few seconds to this long in minutes.
What is 20–30 minutes?
These disturbing dreams cause fear or anxiety and often wake the dreamer up.
What are nightmares?
Unlike nightmares, people who experience these intense sleep episodes usually have no memory of them afterward.
What are night terrors?
This is the largest part of the brain, responsible for thinking, feeling, and remembering.
What is the cerebrum?
In non-REM sleep, this stage involves slower brain waves with occasional bursts of rapid activity.
What is Stage 2?
Dreams are sequences of these four things that occur randomly in the mind during sleep.
What are images, sensations, emotions, and thoughts?
These dreams repeat over time with similar themes and are often linked to unresolved conflicts.
What are recurring dreams?
Night terrors typically occur during this stage of sleep.
What is non-REM sleep?
This part of the brain controls balance and coordination.
What is the cerebellum?
REM stands for these three words.
What is Rapid Eye Movement?
Ancient Egyptians and Greeks believed dreams were these — messages from a higher power.
What are divine messages/prophecies?
This type of "dream" happens while you are awake and conscious.
What is a daydream?
Night terrors are more common in children but can also affect these people.
Who are adults under stress?
This part of the brain acts like "autopilot", controlling breathing and heart rate.
What is the brain stem?
REM periods get longer as the night goes on, so dreams are most memorable during this time of day.
What is the morning?
This word from the lesson means feeling completely surrounded by an experience, like being inside a 3D movie.
What is immersive?
Nightmares can be triggered by stress, trauma, or these.
What are certain medications?
In REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, sleeping people may do this, which could injure themselves or others.
What is physically acting out dreams?