The film Inception tickles the imagination of science geeks and ordinary folk with equal ease. But can you really be a dream voyeur? Check out this article for answers to this and other mind expanding questions. And not to worry, there are no movie spoilers.
Be Creative, Go To Sleep
From a Times Online article on the creative benefits of sleep:
History is peppered with tales of phenomenal ideas taking shape in sleeping minds; Paul McCartney said that he awoke with the tune of Yesterday in his head, and Robert Louis Stevenson said that the idea for The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde came to him in a dream. But what exactly is going on in our minds while we sleep? Does slumber really prompt creative genius? And can the most uncreative of people receive flashes of inspiration once their head hits the pillow?
Daydreaming is Good
Daydreaming is usually considered to be counter productive, but scientists believe a wandering mind may be just the ticket to solve complex problems. So next time your boss catches you drifting off into fantasy world during the next excruciating staff meeting, tell them you’re just a hair away from solving those pesky supply chain management problems that have been dragging the company into the red.
From the Boston Globe article:
In recent years, however, scientists have begun to see the act of daydreaming very differently. They’ve demonstrated that daydreaming is a fundamental feature of the human mind - so fundamental, in fact, that it’s often referred to as our “default” mode of thought. Many scientists argue that daydreaming is a crucial tool for creativity, a thought process that allows the brain to make new associations and connections. Instead of focusing on our immediate surroundings - such as the message of a church sermon - the daydreaming mind is free to engage in abstract thought and imaginative ramblings. As a result, we’re able to imagine things that don’t actually exist, like sticky yellow bookmarks.”
