Dreams and higher reasoning centers??

[Shy Tall Guy]

A beautfiul day in paradise; the leaves are falling, there is snow in the mountains, fog in the Snohomish Valley and campaign sign holders on every street corner (today is an election day here).

Anyway, I have been wanting to ask this question of a group of people so I could see if my experience with dreams is similar to others. I have noticed during dreams that my higher reasoning abilities are definitely stunted; I can't really add/subtract adn forget multiplication, I can't really even read anything. Everything seems to be geared around emotions (fear, joy, anger, etc.) and it is like I can't think with the rational part of my brain very well.

Of course it varies; sometimes I can think rationally a little, sometimes it is just total emotion, but when I wake up, it is like the higher reasoning part of my brain is switched back on; I immediately think, "damn, that wasn't possible" or "that was stupid". Even when I dream about solving a computer programming problem - it is nonsense. I am not like those geniuses out there who solve the meaning of the universe in their dreams.

Yeah, yeah, I know "dreams" are supposed to be like that - I think. But that is why I am asking the board:

Can you think "rationally" during a dream?

If you can, then please give an example.

Thanks.

 

[KillerMuffin]

I don't seem to have that problem. In my dreams I can read and understand in two languages and I have recognized all the chinese characters I know. I was once caught in a dream where I had to solve a particularly difficult calculus problem or the teacher, who happened to be Hitler in my dream, would sacrifice me to the Panzer demon. Don't ask. I solved the problem. It turned out to be the same one I couldn't solve in my homework from the previous night.

Mostly I dream about people who aren't me and whom I've never met doing things in places I've never been or in languages I've never heard. It's very real and very eerie.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

I don't seem to have that problem. In my dreams I can read and understand in two languages and I have recognized all the chinese characters I know. I was once caught in a dream where I had to solve a particularly difficult calculus problem or the teacher, who happened to be Hitler in my dream, would sacrifice me to the Panzer demon. Don't ask. I solved the problem. It turned out to be the same one I couldn't solve in my homework from the previous night.

Impressive!

Anybody else who can solve calculus problems in their sleep?

 

[morninggirl5]

Calculus problems are not dreams. Those are nightmares.

Although I wouldn't mind dreaming about MY solution to that damn igloo problem.