Freud and the Subconscious: Not Quite Wrong

Although many models of psychology have rejected Freudian theories, modern brain imaging suggests that Freud was right on some points. Freud proposed that much of our brain activity is unconscious, and brain imaging supports this idea. Research shows that the brain continues to be active without our awareness, supporting Freud's theory of the ego, id, and superego.

In the brain, the prefrontal cortex, just behind your forehead, is the part that corresponds to the ego or our conscious self. The amygdala represents the "id", the part that desires, while the orbitofrontal cortex houses our conscience, the "superego". For example, when you see a piece of chocolate, it can cause an inner battle between desire and conscience, just as Freud described. More about the role of these brain areas can be found on Neuropsychology.nl .

The Physiology of Dreams

Contrary to Freud's ideas, we now know that dreams originate in the posterior, primitive part of the brain. During dreaming, the prefrontal cortex – where conscious thoughts take place – is deactivated. The conscience, the orbitofrontal cortex, is also deactivated, which explains why dreams are often illogical or strange. The emotional center of the brain, the amygdala, remains active and ensures emotionally charged dreams. You can read more about this on Slaapinfo.nl .

Lucid Dreaming: Control Your Dreams

Lucid dreaming, long a subject of mysticism, has now been scientifically proven. The Max Planck Institute in Germany has shown that people can exert control over their dreams. In an experiment, a participant was instructed to clench his right fist in his dream, followed by his left. Brain scans showed that the brain followed these instructions, proving that the dreamer was aware of the dream and had control.

A Tool Against Teeth Grinding: The Sleeping Mouthpiece

A teeth guard , often used against grinding teeth, can contribute to a better quality of sleep, which can promote dreaming. Teeth grinding can cause jaw pain and tooth damage and disrupt sleep and dreams. A FormidableFit™ Anti-Grinding Guard protects the teeth and ensures a more restful sleep. Another product that contributes to an improved quality of sleep are sleep masks. Sleep masks promote the production of melatonin, which in turn is beneficial for better sleep and sleep quality. A StarryNight™ 3D Sleep Mask from Doctor Comfy Sleep not only contributes to an improved night, but is also comfortable and has a beautiful design. All in all, it can be said that by improving the quality of sleep, it also increases the chance that you can remember your dreams better and possibly experience lucid dreams.

The Future of Dream Research

With advances in brain imaging, dreams are becoming more widely understood. Researchers hope to one day make dreams visible, so that others can see what a person is dreaming, as depicted in the movie *Inception*. While this idea is still a long way off, current research is making it increasingly realistic that we can understand and perhaps even share dreams. Read more about this groundbreaking research on Nature .

Conclusion

Dreams remain a fascinating subject, providing insight into the subconscious. Although Freud’s ideas were revolutionary at the time, modern studies show that there is a scientific basis for many of his theories. Lucid dreaming, where you gain control over your dream, is now scientifically proven. Improve your sleep quality with a FormidableFit™ Teeth Grinding Guard or the StarryNight™ 3D Sleep Mask , so that you can not only sleep better, but perhaps also discover the world of lucid dreaming.