drøm

Drøm is the Danish term for a dream, defined as a sequence of images, thoughts, and emotions that occur during sleep. Most dreams occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when brain activity is high, but dreams can also appear in non-REM stages. Dream content often includes familiar people, places, and worries, yet it can be fantastical or surreal.

Etymology: The word drøm derives from Old Norse draumr and is cognate with Swedish dröm and Norwegian drøm, reflecting a shared Germanic ancestry.

The study of dreaming spans psychology, neuroscience, and culture. Explanations vary: psychoanalytic theories, notably Freud's, view dreams as expressions of unconscious wishes; Jung emphasized messages to the self and archetypes. Activation-synthesis theory posits that dreams result from the brain's attempt to interpret random neural activity during REM sleep. Other theories suggest dreaming supports memory consolidation and emotional processing.

Lucid dreaming, in which the dreamer realizes they are dreaming, is well documented and can allow influence over the dream. Dream recall is variable; many people remember only a few dreams per week, with memory fading after waking.

Clinical relevance: frequent nightmares or distressing dream content can be associated with stress, trauma, or sleep disorders. In ordinary life, dreams have a long-standing presence in literature, art, and personal reflection.