CrashCourse

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream: Crash Course Psychology #9

CrashCourse

Summary

Comedian Mike Birbiglia shares his unusual experiences with sleep, highlighting a particularly alarming incident where he jumped out of a hotel window while dreaming of a missile attack, resulting in serious injuries. This incident prompted him to explore the complexities of sleep and its various stages, emphasizing that sleep is not merely a dormant state but a dynamic process with significant implications for health and well-being.

The discussion delves into the science of sleep, detailing its four distinct stages, including REM sleep, where vivid dreaming occurs. Birbiglia explains that while sleep is essential for recuperation and mental function, the reasons behind why we sleep remain a topic of scientific debate. Notably, the episode touches on the historical contributions of researchers like Eugene Aserinsky, who discovered REM sleep, and the ongoing exploration of sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy, and REM sleep behavior disorder.

Birbiglia also examines the purpose of dreams, referencing various theories from Freud's wish fulfillment to modern perspectives on information processing and cognitive development. The episode concludes with a promise to explore altered states of consciousness in future discussions, further inviting listeners to consider the intricate workings of the human mind during sleep and dreaming.

Show Notes

Why do we sleep? Well... that's a tricky question. More easily answered is the question, "How do we sleep?" In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank discusses some of the ways our brain functions when sleeping and how it can malfunction as well.Want more videos about psychology? Check out our sister channel SciShow Psych at https://www.youtube.com/scishowpsych! --Chapters:Introduction: What Happens When We're Sleeping? 00:00What is sleep and why do we do it? 1:20How do we sleep? 1:56Rapid Eye Movement (REM) 2:384 Stages of Sleep 3:08Sleep Deprivation 4:28Sleep Disorders 4:47What do we dream about? 6:08Why do we dream? 7:26Review & Credits 9:46--Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at http://www.patreon.com/crashcourseWant to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/YouTubeCrashCourseTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/TheCrashCourseInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecrashcourse/CC Kids: http://www.youtube.com/crashcoursekids Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More from CrashCourse

Oct 23, 2026

In which John Green teaches you about Charlotte Brontë's classic coming of age novel, Jane Eyre. Look, we don't like to make judgment values here, but Jane Eyre is awesome. By which we mean the book is great, and the character is amazing. When Jane Eyre was published in 1847, it was a huge hit. It really hit the controversial balance beautifully, being edgy enough to make news, but still mainstream enough to be widely popular. It was sort of like the Fight Club of its day, but not quite as testosterone-fueled. You'll learn a little about the story, learn about Jane as a feminist heroine, and even get some critical analysis on how Bertha might just be a dark mirror that acts out Jane's emotional reactions.Consider supporting local bookstores by purchasing your books through our Bookshop affiliate link https://bookshop.org/shop/complexly​ or at your local bookseller.Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at http://www.patreon.com/crashcourseWant to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/YouTubeCrashCourseTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/TheCrashCourseInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecrashcourse/CC Kids: http://www.youtube.com/crashcoursekids Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23, 2026

Welcome to Crash Course Biology! Over the next 50 episodes, Dr. Sammy will show you how you are connected to every bug, bat, and bacteria that has ever lived. From itty-bitty cells to vast global systems, we’ll see how biology can help us understand ourselves better—and our relationships with the living (and non-living) things all around us. Now I know some of you might be thinking: “Didn’t you already do a Biology series?” Yes, we did. But we’re using everything that we’ve learned over the past decade of Crash Course to make you an even better series. Biology 2.0, if you will. Extra-shiny!By the way, we're publishing all 50 episodes of this series in English AND Spanish! Check out Crash Course Biología on our Crash Course en Español channel here: https://youtu.be/winQBV3Fyx0This series was produced in collaboration with HHMI BioInteractive, committed to empowering educators and inspiring students with engaging, accessible, and quality classroom resources. Visit https://BioInteractive.org/CrashCourse for more information.Are you an educator looking for what NGSS Standards are covered in this episode? Check out our Educator Standards Database for Biology here: https://www.thecrashcourse.com/biologystandards Check out our Biology playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtPW_ofbxdHNciuLoTRLPMgB Watch this series in Spanish on our Crash Course en Español channel here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkcbA0DkuFjWQZzjwF6w_gUrE_5_d3vd3 Crash Course Biology is hosted by Dr. Samuel Ramsey. Learn more about him here: https://www.drsammy.online/***Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at http://www.patreon.com/crashcourseThanks to the following patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:Katie, Tori Thomas, DL Singfield, Ken Davidian, Stephen Akuffo, Toni Miles, Steve Segreto, Kyle & Katherine Callahan, Laurel Stevens, Burt Humburg, Allyson Martin, Aziz Y, Perry Joyce, Scott Harrison, Mark & Susan Billian, Alan Bridgeman, Rachel Creager, Breanna Bosso, Matt Curls, Jennifer Killen, Jon Allen, Sarah & Nathan Catchings, team dorsey, Trevin Beattie, Eric Koslow, Jennifer Dineen, Indija-ka Siriwardena, Jason Rostoker, Siobhán, Ken Penttinen, Nathan Taylor, Les Aker, William McGraw, ClareG, Rizwan Kassim, Constance Urist, Alex Hackman, Pineapples of Solidarity, Katie Dean, Stephen McCandless, Wai Jack Sin, Ian Dundore, Justin, Mark, Caleb Weeks.__Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/YouTubeCrashCourseTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/TheCrashCourseInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecrashcourse/CC Kids: http://www.youtube.com/crashcoursekids Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23, 2026

Today, in the penultimate episode of Crash Course Zoology, we're going to use everything we've learned so far to try and figure out what a "species" even is anyway! As you'll see, the incredible diversity of animals makes it really difficult to fit animals into neat categories so scientists have employed a variety of approaches to categorizing animals. Check out Bizarre Beast's Episode on the Western Fence Lizard! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGgg50OOHBo 🦔🐒🐝🐛🐘🐍🐀🐠 🐢🐋🐅🦓🦇🦜🐜🪱🦑 🦀🐊Learn more about Rae here! https://www.raewynngrant.com​​ Watch our videos and review your learning with the Crash Course App! Download here for Apple Devices: https://apple.co/3d4eyZoDownload here for Android Devices: https://bit.ly/2SrDulJCrash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at http://www.patreon.com/crashcourseThanks to the following patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:Michael M. Varughese, Ben Follows, Kyle & Katherine Callahan, Laurel A Stevens, Chris Routh, Evan Lawrence Henderson, Vincent, Emilee Murphy, Michael Wang, Jordan willis, Krystle Young, Michael Dowling, Alexis B, Rene Duedam, Burt Humburg, Aziz, Nick, DAVID MORTON HUDSON, Perry Joyce, Scott Harrison, Mark & Susan Billian, Junrong Eric Zhu, Alan Bridgeman, Rachel Creager, Jennifer Smith, Matt Curls, Tim Kwist, Jonathan Zbikowski, Jennifer Killen, Sarah & Nathan Catchings, Brandon Westmoreland, team dorsey, Trevin Beattie, Divonne Holmes à Court, Eric Koslow, Indika Siriwardena, Khaled El Shalakany, Jason Rostoker, Shawn Arnold, Siobhán, Ken Penttinen, Nathan Taylor, William McGraw, Andrei Krishkevich, ThatAmericanClare, Rizwan Kassim, Sam Ferguson, Alex Hackman, Eric Prestemon, Jirat, Katie Dean, TheDaemonCatJr, Wai Jack Sin, Ian Dundore, Matthew, Jason A Saslow, Justin, Jessica Wode, Mark, Caleb Weeks__Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/YouTubeCrashCourseTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/TheCrashCourseTumblr - http://thecrashcourse.tumblr.com Support Crash Course on Patreon: http://patreon.com/crashcourseCC Kids: http://www.youtube.com/crashcoursekids Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23, 2026

You may think you know all about hypnosis from the movies. Zoolander, The Manchurian Candidate, etc... but there's a whole lot more going on. In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank tells us about some of the many altered states of consciousness, including hypnosis.Want more videos about psychology? Check out our sister channel SciShow Psych at https://www.youtube.com/scishowpsych--Chapters:Introduction: Hypnosis & Altered States of Consciousness 00:00Facts & Fallacies About Hypnosis 2:00How does hypnosis work? 3:05Drug Tolerance & Neuroadaptation 4:49Psychoactive Drugs 5:51Depressants 6:28Stimulants 7:35Hallucinogens/Psychedelics 9:04Non-Drug Induced Hallucinations 9:33Review & Credits 10:32--Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at http://www.patreon.com/crashcourseWant to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/YouTubeCrashCourseTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/TheCrashCourseInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecrashcourse/CC Kids: http://www.youtube.com/crashcoursekids Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23, 2026

Today we’re going to talk about borders. Borders can bring people together, evoke passion and war, divide, conquer, and solidify power. We’re going to focus on the tyranny of the map which is what happens when those in power draw boundaries in ways that conflict with how people in that place want to be grouped. We’ll look at the repercussions of the Berlin Conference of 1884 on boundaries within Africa, take a closer look at continued political unrest in Mali, and look at how this can even happen at a local level like when gerrymandering occurs within a US state. [Sources]In generalCIA Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/docs/one_page_summaries.htmlGetis, Bjelland, and Getis. Introduction to Geography, 15 ed. McGraw-Hill Education. 2017. ISBN: 978-1-259-57000-1Gregory, Derek, Ron Johnston, Geraldine Pratt, Michael Watts, and Sarah Whatmore, eds. 2009. The Dictionary of Human Geography. 5th ed. Willey-Blackwell. ISBN: 978-1-4051-3288-6Cracking the AP Human Geography Exam: 2020 edition. The Princeton Review.For a free and open source option for Intro to Human Geography, see: https://humangeography.pressbooks.com/For a free and open source option for World Regional Geography, see: https://worldgeography.pressbooks.com/front-matter/introduction/Malihttps://afropop.org/audio-programs/hip-deep-in-mali-the-tuareg-predicamenthttps://journals.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/f?p=1507:200::::200:P200_ARTICLEID:374484289https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/destabilization-malihttps://sgp.fas.org/crs/row/IF10116.pdfhttps://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mali/https://www.aspeniaonline.it/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/keys-ing_080413.pdfDemocracy versus the People by Andy Morgan: https://journals.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_ejcsearch/r/1507/99?p99_entity_id=290802583&p99_entity_type=MAIN_FILE&cs=3vnpEQN7KjqzffLDIWPKj0UtKNSB71ybNuCSObxHOYTju_pm9F9zNmfXxMFAS1Xgnc6AG9dV6UMXLfqZLZuyt-Q https://afropop.org/articles/andy-morgan-on-tuareg-music-and-historyhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-22961519https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/26077https://afropop.org/audio-programs/hip-deep-in-mali-the-tuareg-predicamentBoundarieshttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-organization/article/mapping-the-sovereign-state-technology-authority-and-systemic-change/0C0A5F17B945CFE437DA681D2C5FE025https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11186-016-9264-0#Sec6 South Sudanhttps://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/south-sudan/ Watch our videos and review your learning with the Crash Course App! Download here for Apple Devices: https://apple.co/3d4eyZoDownload here for Android Devices: https://bit.ly/2SrDulJCrash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at http://www.patreon.com/crashcourseThanks to the following patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:DL Singfield, Jeremy Mysliwiec, Shannon McCone, Amelia Ryczek, Ken Davidian, Brian Zachariah, Stephen Akuffo, Toni Miles, Oscar Pinto-Reyes, Erin Nicole, Steve Segreto, Michael M. Varughese, Kyle & Katherine Callahan, Laurel A Stevens, Vincent, Michael Wang, Stacey Gillespie, Jaime Willis, Krystle Young, Michael Dowling, Alexis B, Rene Duedam, Burt Humburg, Aziz Y, DAVID MORTON HUDSON, Perry Joyce, Scott Harrison, Mark & Susan Billian, Junrong Eric Zhu, Alan Bridgeman, Rachel Creager, Jennifer Smith, Matt Curls, Tim Kwist, Jonathan Zbikowski, Jennifer Killen, Sarah & Nathan Catchings, Brandon Westmoreland, team dorsey, Trevin Beattie, Divonne Holmes à Court, Eric Koslow, Jennifer Dineen, Indika Siriwardena, Khaled El Shalakany, Jason Rostoker, Shawn Arnold, Siobhán, Ken Penttinen, Nathan Taylor, William McGraw, Andrei Krishkevich, ThatAmericanClare, Rizwan Kassim, Sam Ferguson, Alex Hackman, Jirat, Katie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See all episodes →