"A comprehensive exploration of what dreams are, where they come from, what they mean, and why we have them. Questions on the origins and meaning of dreams are as old as humankind, and persist to this day to excite and confound us. When Brains Dream addresses the core questions about dreams while illuminating the most up-to-date science in the field. Written by two world-renowned sleep and dream researchers, it debunks many myths about dreams while acknowledging the mysteries that continue to surround both the science and experience of dreaming. What's more, by bringing together state-of-the-art neuroscientific ideas and findings, Zadra and Stickgold propose a new and innovative model of dream function called NEXTUP-"Network Exploration to Understand Possibilities." By detailing this model's workings, they help readers understand key features of several types of dreams-from prophetic dreams to nightmares and lucid dreams-and explain everything from how dreams can facilitate creativity to why they can be a source of personal insight"-- Provided by publisher.