How Do You Know What A Bird Dreams About?

Dog and cat people know their pets dream, but do all animals dream? What about birds? Octopuses? Even fruit flies? Ann and Lisa explore how scientists know if other animals are dreaming and even what they might be dreaming about. Why do we wingless humans dream we can fly? If we dream we can fly, do birds dream they can drive a car?

Lisa and Ann discuss recent studies into how, why, and what animals dream about. Learn just how similar animal dreams might be.

Want to follow up on our sources or watch any of the videos we mention? Go to ThisAnimalLIfe.com and click on Show Notes. 

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“Do Animals Dream?” Earth/Sky. February 2019.

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Giaimo, Cara. “Why We Love to Fly in Our Dreams.” Slate. November 2016.

Goldman, Jason G. “What do animals dream about?” BBC. April 2014.

Horton, Lydiard Heneage. Dissertation on the Dream Problem. Vol. 1. 

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“Octopus Dreaming.” Octopus: Making Contact. Nature. Season 38 Episode 1

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Smith, Belinda. “Why dreams like flying, falling, being chased are so common, and how your brain creates them.” ABC Science. January 2019.

Vanderbilt University, “Study Gives New Meaning to the Term ‘Bird Brain.’” Neuroscience News, June 2016.