Our dreams can haunt us: literally. Recurring dreams about failing tests or running late are a common occurrence, but what are we to make of them? And are there hidden meanings in our dreams? Paleothic hunter-gatherers may have painted their dreams onto caves, Julius Caesar's wife envisioned his assasination in a dream, and major works of art and music have been inspired by dreams. But with the scientific revolution came a different view of dreams, one in which they were dismissed as merely a meaningless biological reaction. Today, researchers are challenging that age-old assumption and finding new evidence that dreams are a vital way human beings process the world. In this episode, Sidarta Ribeiro takes us on a journey through the history of our understanding of dreams.

If you would like to learn more about Dreams

• The Oracle of Night: The History and Science of Dreams by Sidarta Riberio
• Why We Dream: The Transformative Power of Our Nightly Journey by Alice Robb
• Insomnia Line by Radiolab, WYNC Studios

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