Maya Brinster
AP Bio EF Even
Current Event #1
9/24/2020
Linden, Sander van der. “The Science Behind Dreaming.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 26 July 2011, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-science-behind-dreaming/
In “The Science Behind Dreaming,” author Sander van der Linden writes about recent studies that have worked to find the significance of dreaming, as well as the mechanism behind it. The purpose of dreaming is very controversial; Many believe that dreams have no specific psychological purpose, while others think that there is a significant purpose behind dreaming. Some scientists also believe that there is a concrete mechanism in the brain that produces them. Modern technologies now allow scientists to study these hypotheses in such a depth that wasn’t possible as little as a few years ago. Three studies’ findings in particular are discussed in this article and offer previously unknown information about dreams. The first, Carried out by neuroscientist Cristina Marzano and her colleagues at the University of Rome, revealed how people remember their dreams. According to the study, increased activity in the frontal lobe during sleep correlated with a higher chance of remembering the dreams. The frontal cortex is used during the recollection of memories, which explains its significance in the remembrance of dreams as well. A similar study, which used modern MRI technologies, examined the relationship between dreaming and other deep-brain structures. They found that more vivid or emotionally intense dreams, which are more likely to be remembered, are linked to parts of the hippocampus and amygdala. The hippocampus plays an important role in different memory functions, while the amygdala helps with the processing and memory of emotional reactions, which explains their correlation with the remembrance of emotionally charged dreams. The last finding was discovered after scientists examined the brain of a woman who had lost the ability to dream after developing a rare clinical syndrome that causes neurological damage. However, it had only affected her ability to dream, and nothing else. Scientists discovered a single lesion in the visual cortex of her brain, which proves that this part of the brain is the place in which dreams take place. These discoveries show how dreams help regulate the connections between our experiences with our emotions and memories.
This article describes discoveries that are extremely important to neuroscience and biology in general. The brain is the most underexplored part of the body, and there is very little concrete information that explains its function and purpose, compared to that of other organs. Likewise, there is very little that scientists know about dreams. These studies help provide information that helps scientists become more familiar with the process of dreaming and dreams in general, which might prove to be useful in the future.
This article is incredibly interesting, and Linden includes a lot of relevant and captivating information about dreams and the brain. He cites important information and includes many credible studies and information from a wide variety of neuroscientists. However, Linden’s point becomes rather obscure throughout the article. Although he ties the studies together at the very end, I was a bit lost during the middle portion of the article. To improve upon this, it might be useful for him to reiterate his point multiple times, and explain why each study he mentions helps to prove it throughout the entire article rather than just in the end. Overall, however, “The Science Behind Dreaming” was a very captivating read.
Linden, Sander van der. “The Science Behind Dreaming.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 26 July 2011, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-science-behind-dreaming/
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In her review of Maya provides an interesting introduction to a topic questioned by many, why do we dream? I think that one of the first things that Maya executed very well in her review was her concise yet captivating summary of the article. The article maya chose was on a topic that she had clearly been fascinated with, which is clearly evident in the tone of her writing and her final thoughts on the original paper. I was able to feel her interest and be drawn in as well to the scientific explanations for why I can remember dreams and what parts of my brain control my dreams. Additionally I think that Maya does an excellent job in explaining to the reader what certain key ideas that she read in the article meant. This was seen many times when she would identify a part of the brain and then follow it up with what the function of that particular part is and how that pertains to the grander idea of dreams. Lastly Maya is also able to not only effectively explain to the reader the meaning behind larger concepts but also do so in a complementary way that melds together the scientific jargon into comprehensible statements which get both her opinion and the author’s message across. An example of these two strengths complimenting each other is in the line where she writes, “ They found that more vivid or emotionally intense dreams, which are more likely to be remembered, are linked to parts of the hippocampus and amygdala. The hippocampus plays an important role in different memory functions, while the amygdala helps with the processing and memory of emotional reactions, which explains their correlation with the remembrance of emotionally charged dreams.” She first explains the key idea that the author was getting across using the same proper science terminology. Which she then follows with a breakdown of the meaning of it, and its pertinence to the grander topic of dreaming.
Maya’s review is very strong and has few areas that need to be improved upon. Primarily, although she does introduce the importance of this article to biology and science in the second paragraph, she could potentially expand her ideas further and cite more examples. Her paragraph is succinct with a message that is clear and logical. I believe that by including maybe an example of an organ we have done much research on, to then compare it to the lack of research on the brain could strengthen and further the message on this article's larger impact. Furthermore she understood the article and the research done to the point where she could have included more of her own opinion on the topic or even her stance on the importance of studying dreams. She mentioned earlier in her review that there is debate on dreams yet doesn't express to the reader her side. These suggestions however are easily resolvable and potentially don’t need to be implemented any way as the review provides a factual and neutral assessment of dreaming.
This review was extremely interesting for me to read. I believe that dreaming is something that seems so normal and explainable however it’s strange to then realize that there is so much that is unknown about it. This is an especially perfect example of peaking curiosity to discover the unknown. Although we have so much knowledge and information in this day and age we are constantly learning more about ourselves and how our bodies function which will in high probability be the case for a long time. It got me thinking about what I want to know more about and what new discoveries about our brain function and psychology come out in the near future. I always did question why some dreams are easier to remember than others, now I know why.
In Maya's review, she outlines the information learned in the article "The Science Behind Dreaming." Through her review, it is clear that she completely understands the article. She outlines the three hypotheses that serve as the framework in the article, as well as synthesizes the information learned. She speaks of Christina Marzano's findings, and is able to summary her hypothesis and experiments.
ReplyDeleteHowever, she could have incorporated more of a background into dreaming and the summary of the article. This would have provided the reader with back information, that would be helpful to understanding the terms that Maya lays out in her review. She also could have included her own take on this article, and summarized the way she feels about it and its findings.
Ultimately, Maya's review was excellent. Previously, I did not know much about the science behind our dreams. However, I now have a complete understanding behind one of theories that proves why we, as humans, dream when we enter the REM cycle of sleep. It was extremely interesting for me to read, and I am happy that I now can approach my life with this new knowledge.
For my current event, I read a review by Maya on an article originally published in Scientific American, titled “The Science Behind Dreaming” First, Maya did an excellent job when writing her introduction because it immediately grabs the reader's attention by discussing the purpose of dreaming, which she explains is controversial. “The purpose of dreaming is very controversial; Many believe that dreams have no specific psychological purpose, while others think that there is a significant purpose behind dreaming. Some scientists also believe that there is a concrete mechanism in the brain that produces them.” This caught my attention and made me want to continue reading. Maya also did a good job including information from neuroscientists to establish her credibility and allow the reader to comprehend the subject. For example, “The first, Carried out by neuroscientist Cristina Marzano and her colleagues at the University of Rome, revealed how people remember their dreams. According to the study, increased activity in the frontal lobe during sleep correlated with a higher chance of remembering the dreams.” This quote is a key point in the article. Lastly, I appreciate how Maya was able to make a connection between the topic and the reader by explaining that dreams regulate the connections between our experiences with our emotions and memories.
ReplyDeleteAlthough her review was very well written, there are certain areas in which she could have improved. For example, she should have included more statistics because they allow the reader to understand the topic in greater depth. Secondly, Maya should have voiced her opinion more heavily in her review because adding her opinion would allow readers to understand the subject more easily.
Maya’s current event was very interesting to read and was very informative. Her current event has made me want to learn more about dreams and neuroscience.
Linden, Sander van der. “The Science Behind Dreaming.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 26 July 2011, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-science-behind-dreaming/
ReplyDeletehttps://bronxvilleapbiology.blogspot.com/2020/09/maya-brinster-ap-bio-ef-even-current. tml#comment-form
For my current event, I read a review by Maya on an article originally published in Scientific American, titled “The Science Behind Dreaming” First, Maya did an excellent job when writing her introduction because it immediately grabs the reader's attention by discussing the purpose of dreaming, which she explains is controversial. “The purpose of dreaming is very controversial; Many believe that dreams have no specific psychological purpose, while others think that there is a significant purpose behind dreaming. Some scientists also believe that there is a concrete mechanism in the brain that produces them.” This caught my attention and made me want to continue reading. Maya also did a good job including information from neuroscientists to establish her credibility and allow the reader to comprehend the subject. For example, “The first, Carried out by neuroscientist Cristina Marzano and her colleagues at the University of Rome, revealed how people remember their dreams. According to the study, increased activity in the frontal lobe during sleep correlated with a higher chance of remembering the dreams.” This quote is a key point in the article. Lastly, I appreciate how Maya was able to make a connection between the topic and the reader by explaining that dreams regulate the connections between our experiences with our emotions and memories.
Although her review was very well written, there are certain areas in which she could have improved. For example, she should have included more statistics because they allow the reader to understand the topic in greater depth. Secondly, Maya should have voiced her opinion more heavily in her review because adding her opinion would allow readers to understand the subject more easily.
Maya’s current event was very interesting to read and was very informative. Her current event has made me want to learn more about dreams and neuroscience.