Why does it feel more real when you dream than im awake?

There is actually a scientific reason why dreams feel more real than reality during sleep. It's linked to various factors, including brain activity, memory processes, and heightened emotions.

1. Different Brain Wave Patterns:

During REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the brain produces a particular pattern of brain waves that resembles the ones we experience when awake. This brain activity contributes to the vividness and realism of dreams, making them feel almost as if they're happening in real life.

2. Reduced Sensory Input:

When you're asleep, your senses are largely disconnected from the external world. This lack of sensory input means there's less information for the brain to process and interpret, which creates a more immersive experience within dreams.

3. Emotional Intensity:

Emotion often plays a central role in dreams. Whether positive or negative, intense emotions can amplify the reality of dream experiences. This emotional engagement further contributes to the feeling that dreams are more than just figments of the imagination.

4. Memory Consolidation:

During sleep, the brain consolidates memories, integrating new experiences with existing knowledge. This process sometimes blurs the line between reality and dreams, leading to a sense of familiarity or even déjà vu within dream sequences.

5. Heightened Suggestibility:

While dreaming, people tend to be more receptive to suggestions, imagery, and sensory input. This increased suggestibility makes it easier for the brain to create highly believable dream scenarios, further adding to the illusion of reality.

6. Lack of Conscious Control:

In the dream state, you lack the conscious control and critical thinking skills that are active when awake. This allows dreams to unfold in ways that defy logic or physical limitations, enhancing their surrealistic nature.

7. Immersion and Presence:

Dreams create a sense of immersion, placing the dreamer directly into the experiences. The vividness of dream images, sounds, and emotions further enhances the feeling of being fully present and engaged within the dream world.

8. Time Perception:

The passage of time within dreams can be distorted, leading to a perception of events happening at an accelerated or slowed-down pace. This altered time perception contributes to the dreamlike aura and distinct experience that dreams offer.

It's important to remember that dreams, while feeling real, are ultimately products of our brain's natural activity during sleep. Understanding the reasons behind the heightened sense of reality in dreams sheds light on the incredible complexity and fascinating workings of the human mind.