Follow us: hu Improving life after brain injury Need to talk? 0808 800 2244 Donate Home About brain injury Individuals Brain injury and me Exploring your dreams Share your story Share your story with us to help others affected by brain injury Exploring your dreams When the brain has been damaged it will sleep differently and it will dream differently. Dreams have been a source of inspiration, mystery, awe and instruction for countless centuries. Ancient civilisations thought dreams were spiritual experiences. 20th century psychologists theorised that they were messages from our own subconscious minds. Poets across the ages used the ethereal nature of dreams to inspire romantic verses. Philosophers questioned the nature of reality on the basis of dreams. Here, Professor John Groeger (Nottingham Trent University), an expert on sleep and psychology, explains what modern day science can tell us about dreams, and how they can be affected by brain injury. “While it may seem obvious, dreams come from the same brain that enables us to do the incredible variety of things we do when we are awake. Anything we do leaves a ‘residue’ of that activity. We can argue about whether this is a ‘memory’ or not, but what we call ‘dreams’ depend hugely on what remains in your head after you have an experience. “Dreams then are, quite simply, no more than some sort of muddled up version of things we have experienced while awake. It may seem ‘like real life’, or bizarre, because of which part of the brain accesses that information on that occasion, and what else is happening in the brain at the time. “This is is a key point - your brain is very active while you sleep, some parts of the brain are almost as active as when you are awake, but the whole brain is not. That’s why what we can remember from while we are asleep can seem very, very strange. “You are probably reading this because you have had, or someone you know has had a brain injury. Regrettably, the damage that is there when awake is there when asleep. “Can you remember life before your brain injury? You probably can, although it may be upsetting to do so. Do you try to remember pre-injury life and feel upset? If yes, then you will do so when asleep, if not, you may still do so when asleep. Either way it will almost certainly disturb you in the night, whether or not you remember having that dream. Professor John Groeger “When the brain has been damaged it will sleep differently and it will dream differently. Some of these different dreams may be no more than a difference in the life now led from that you had before. Some may result from the trauma suffered because the brain has been changed, or because the trauma experienced is posing psychological challenges.” To find out more about Professor Groeger’s work and discuss any of the issues above, visit ntu.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/groups/sleep. Back to stories index Sweet dreams? Getting a good night's sleep after brain injury In this feature, we will look at the ways in which sleep can be affected by brain injury, and what can help. Find out more Top tips for a good night's sleep Sleep and rest are effective ways to reduce the symptoms of fatigue, one of the most common effects of a brain injury. However, for many brain injury survivors, a good night’s sleep isn’t always easil... Find out more Sally Smith For hardworking businesswoman Sally Smith*, 31, sleep was something that came second to her thriving work life. But this would change following a fateful bang to the head. Find out more Related resources Sleep problems after brain injury Friends of Headway Individual membership Join/Renew Contact Us t: 0115 924 0800 e: enquiries@headway.org.uk Help us improve life after brain injury. Donate Improving life after brain injury 0808 800 2244 Call our free helpline 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. Or email helpline@headway.org.uk Join our online Community 27k Likes 25k Followers 3k Subscribers Privacy policy Cookies Terms & Conditions Accessibility Contact Us Resource centre Find a Headway Approved care providers Charity shops Fundraising comments, feedback and complaints Vacancies Join our mailing list Headway - the brain injury association is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Charity no. 1025852) and the Office of the Scottish Regulator (Charity no. SC 039992). Headway is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no. 2346893. © Copyright Headway 2021 - Site designed and developed by MEDIAmaker By clicking 'Accept All Cookies’ you agree to the storing of cookies on your device. This will help us to offer the best possible experience and develop more of the information you need. Accept All Cookies Cookies Settings