Which of the following statements concerning dreams and dreaming is true? A dream’s content can be detected by electronic monitoring. Most dreams are easy to recall in the morning. Dreams occur only during REM sleep, not during nREM sleep. Dreams have played a part in shaping human culture.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: Dreams have played a part in shaping human culture.
Explanation:
Dreams have influenced human culture for thousands of years. Across many societies, dreams are seen as meaningful experiences that can offer insights, warnings, or inspiration. Ancient civilizations often interpreted dreams as messages from gods or ancestors, and these interpretations have influenced art, literature, religion, and philosophy. For example, many myths and religious texts include stories about dreams that guide characters or foretell future events. This cultural significance highlights how deeply dreams have been woven into human history and societal development.
Regarding the other options:
The idea that a dream’s content can be detected by electronic monitoring is currently false. While scientists can monitor brain activity during sleep using devices such as EEG and fMRI, they cannot directly read or decode the exact content of dreams. Research is ongoing, and some patterns of brain activity correlate with certain types of visual imagery or emotions, but precise “dream reading” remains beyond current technology.
Most dreams are not easy to recall in the morning. Many people forget the majority of their dreams shortly after waking. Dream recall varies among individuals and can be influenced by factors such as how abruptly a person wakes up or how much attention they pay to their dreams upon awakening.
Finally, dreams do not occur only during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Although REM sleep is when vivid, story-like dreams are most common, research has shown that dreams can also occur during non-REM (nREM) stages of sleep. These nREM dreams tend to be less vivid and more thought-like, but dreaming is not exclusive to REM sleep.
In summary, the most accurate statement is that dreams have had a significant role in shaping human culture throughout history.