What Are Dreams, Anyway?

Older research shows that the brain wants to make sense of what it has seen and experienced throughout the day, and so, when you’re sleeping, it digs into that vat of information and starts processing it. 

There’s a growing body of research that specifically sets out to prove that your brain actually actively works through problems, pulling out new insights and solutions from the far reaches of your mind. It explains why many people who hear tapes while they drift off to sleep, even though they’re not actively listening, still find that the information gets into their minds.