We’ve all experienced odd moments in our dreams. You try to reach someone, stretch out your hand, but it feels like you’re grasping air. Or when faced with danger, you want to run, but your legs won’t carry you. So, why is it sometimes impossible to perform physical actions in our dreams?
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The Thin Line Between Dreams and Reality
When we’re awake, our brain manages motor and sensory functions that allow us to interact with the world. However, when we sleep—especially during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep—these functions are largely suppressed. REM sleep is the phase where we experience the most vivid dreams. While our brain remains active during this phase, our body undergoes temporary “sleep paralysis.”
This mechanism serves as a safety measure. Imagine if you acted out your dream of running or hitting someone in real life—you could harm yourself or others. By preventing us from physically performing the actions we see in our dreams, our brain protects us.
Lucid Dreams: Does Awareness Change Everything?
Some of us have experienced lucid dreams—a state where we are aware we’re dreaming and can partially control the dream. In such dreams, we might fly, visit desired locations, or alter the course of events. Yet even in these dreams, touching or interacting with someone can remain challenging.
Why? Because even during lucid dreams, our brain isn’t fully awake. REM sleep continues, and motor functions are still limited. Thus, the brain’s protective mechanism remains in place, restricting our physical interactions.
The Role of Motor and Sensory Functions in the Brain
The inability to touch or hit someone in a dream is tied to how our brain operates during sleep. The motor cortex, which controls our movements, is largely deactivated during sleep. As a result, the actions we wish to perform in dreams often feel ineffective, as if hitting a wall.
What Do Scientific Studies Say?
Numerous studies on dreams indicate that these experiences are directly linked to the brain’s complex structure and functionality. For instance, Dr. Deirdre Barrett from Harvard University explains that dreams reflect our subconscious and that the brain processes thoughts and emotions during REM sleep.
During dreams, the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for self-awareness—is typically inactive. In lucid dreams, however, this area becomes partially active, enabling us to realize we’re dreaming. Yet, because we’re not fully awake, our actions remain limited.
A Psychological Perspective
The inability to touch or hit someone in a dream represents a paradox inherent to dreams. Dreams are a safe space created by our mind, allowing us to process subconscious thoughts and emotions. Perhaps our subconscious imposes these limits to prevent us from accidentally harming ourselves or others during a dream.
Additionally, these restrictions may reflect our inner fears and anxieties. The sense of losing control in a dream could symbolize feelings of stress or helplessness in real life.
The Benefits of Lucid Dreams
Lucid dreams can be a tool for relief, especially for those who frequently experience nightmares. Being aware of dreaming allows individuals to neutralize frightening elements or transform them into less threatening forms. This can make the dream experience more positive and help reduce anxiety in waking life.
Moreover, lucid dreaming has been used in treating conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The ability to control nightmares and reduce emotional burdens is a key focus of research in this area.
Conclusion: The Boundaries and Safety Mechanisms of Dreams
The inability to touch or hit someone in a dream is a result of the brain’s protective mechanisms during sleep. Even when our consciousness is active, the brain restricts our motor functions to prevent physical harm. This natural barrier ensures safety in the dream world, even in lucid dreams, where we might feel a partial sense of freedom.
Dreams may seem limitless, but they are governed by specific boundaries. Recognizing these limits and understanding how dreams allow us to communicate with our subconscious can help us better explore our inner selves.
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucid_dream
- https://www.quora.com/Why-the-hell-cant-we-punch-hard-in-dreams?no_redirect=1
- https://www.simplypsychology.org/sigmund-freud-dream-theory.html
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24465-rem-sleep-behavior-disorder-rbd
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-resistance-hypothesis/202308/are-dreams-actually-subconscious-maybe-not
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987723000622
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-017-02761-0
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27070245/
- https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/lucid-dreams-overview
- https://www.sleep.com/sleep-health/what-is-lucid-dreaming
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_eye_movement_sleep
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21974-sleep-paralysis
