A N I M A L
by stefani greenwood
By looking at the firing patterns of a group of cells in rats, scientists at MIT were able to determine that animals do dream and that their dreams are connected to actual experiences. The experiment consisted of monitoring brain activity in trained rats running on a circular track for food rewards. This created distinct neuron patterns firing in the area involved with memory, the hippocampus (basically wired the same way in virtually all vertebrates and mammals). They then monitored brain activity while the rats were sleeping, through the similar stages of sleep we go through – slow wave sleep to REM sleep. Research showed that out of 40 REM episodes about half repeated the exact brain activity as when the rat was running. Interestingly, REM occurs approximately every 90 minutes in people, and every 25 minutes in cats. In dogs, research shows that the frequency and length of dreams is linked to physical size.
Matthew Wilson of MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory in Cambridge, Mass said that Charles Darwin basically claimed “if you can prove that an animal dreams, then, in effect, you can prove that’s consciousness. Because after all, what is a dream other than a conscious image?”
What does this say about humans and their hierarchal relationships with other animals?
Woah, this is so interesting! I like both links very much. That dreaming cat is so cute.
i love the dreaming cat! Glad you liked the post. x
Interesting article. I always like to know the “science” involved. Even more interesting to me is the fact that it took research at MIT to prove what any loving pet owner already knows.
I know! It is so obvious when you look down at your animal and see them twitching all around. I thought it was most important what Charles Darwin said because it made me give a lot of thought (something that is often on my mind) to what I think consciousness is and what that means in relation to how we treat animals – especially for food.
I just found this collection the other day and am thoroughly delighted! I love collections.
This makes me feel like dreams serve a greater purpose than I can sometimes figure out. Why did I dream about being a vigilante the other night? I don’t know. What does it mean? Why are rats dreaming about life experiences and why does size affect a dog’s dream? Does it mean anything?
We are happy that you found our blog! Keep checking back for more posts that will lead you to more questions that will lead you to more information and into infinity we will go! or will we?
What a beautiful sleeping kitty. I love when science proves what we’ve all been thinking. Of course our pets dream, right? Why else would my dog be shaking his legs and barking in his sleep? I love it.
Seriously! But now we have some major insight to how the are instant replaying our interactions and special times. xx