A fever dream is a vivid, often bizarre or unpleasant dream that occurs when a person has a fever, typically during illness. These dreams are more intense and strange compared to regular dreams and often include feelings of heat, illness, or discomfort. Fever dreams usually happen during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage when most vivid dreaming occurs
. The exact cause of fever dreams is not fully understood, but researchers believe that the elevated body temperature affects brain function and cognitive processing, leading to these unusual and sometimes disturbing dream experiences. Fevers can disrupt REM sleep, which may also contribute to the altered nature of fever dreams
. Fever dreams tend to be more negatively toned, emotionally intense, and less socially interactive than typical dreams. Common themes include spatial distortions (like melting objects or changing spaces), threats or dangers, and illness-related imagery. Despite their intensity, fever dreams do not have a specific symbolic meaning but often reflect the sleeper's current physical state and discomfort
. In summary, a fever dream is an intense, vivid, and often unsettling dream linked to the body's elevated temperature during fever, caused by changes in brain activity and sleep patterns
