There is a conceptual theory, I am talking about a lot in a last time, wich is IMO the one wich is the right one.
It says that there is no valid memory as something that is based in your brain in a way it is based in a computer.
Memory is connectning all sorts of concepts. For an example, if you see dragon in a movie you never seen before, from that moment, in your "memory" the dentrites make new connection which connects your concept of dragon with that movie. (OK, movie is not a concept, but all thigs that happened in that movie are concepts that exist in you brain, so they are connected to concept of dragon).
Concepts are acctually not something really where is written dragon in this case, but it is the center from which further connections on dragon start (for exaple...fire...big one....lizzard...fairy tail...etc).
The new concepts are being born every day, and more you know, there is much more concepts for wich the new concept can be connected. So, that is the reason why you can learn much easier the fourth language, the the second one.
Next, the dreams could have the fuction (this is not directly connected to this theoryy, but fits in that theory very, very good....) of connecting or better to say reorganisation of existing concepts.....have you ever learn at night, next day went to exam, and did it much better than you thought you know? It happened to me many times.....
Next, you know that many inventios, ideas where born in the dreaming time...
In this theory random from quantum theory enables us to move further from regular concepts... but that is another story.
And finnaly....when you dream you travel trough your concepts, and connect them in not so regular way.. those concepts lead you to another concepts which make you dream all sorts of weird things.
And those connections are actually your new memories.
Your "real" memory is nothing than connection of conncepts...which are based on linearity...so it makes them be your history (if there was not before and after, you could never know is that your memory, or just a dream..and that is a bunch of the connections on conncepts that fit very nice)...and when you dream you make new connections (and probably new concepts)...which worth to you same as a "real" memory.
On your question about separate memories on dreams and real time, it means that they are not separate, but only that dreams are connected to all sorts on concepts less then in the real world.
And often there are lot of dead ends...wich "keep" that dream far from your "memory".
Sorry for grammar and spelling...if you feel it is imortant please write it properly.
I think that thise theory is the most advanced I ever met and I want it to share with people who are interested in knowledge...not just myth.
Finnaly...this theory can explain many interesting things such as deja vus etc. a way easier than any other. And in informatics it is well known thing that the best programs, and the best hardware are allways the simplest ones. Edited by Crobih on 10/12/01 06:00 AM.