Dreams can boost creativity by freeing the brain from normal thinking rules.

When we dream, the part of the brain that controls logical thinking is less active. This lets ideas and images mix in unusual ways, without the usual limits. Many artists, writers, and inventors have found creative inspiration from their dreams. For example, the chemist Kekulé dreamed of a snake biting its tail, which helped him imagine the ring shape of benzene. Dreams act like a playground for creativity, allowing new connections and solutions to appear.