Quote (bentherdonethat @ 4 Sep 2013 22:10)
Not every trait an organism has necessarily offers an evolutionary benefit. For example, plants are green. Being green has absolutely no benefit to plants. However, the chlorophyl that causes them to be green gives them an astounding benefit. You can have two traits that are linked, so that one ends up getting dragged along with the other.
Perhaps dreaming and higher level brain functions (i.e. cognitive thought) are two such linked traits. It could be the brain's way of using up inactive cycles, sort of like how Windows computers have a System Idle process that acts as a placeholder when nothing else is actively consuming CPU time.
While I agree with your point, I don't think that the plant analogy is correct. The chlorophyl (and therefore the plant) is green because where and when they evolved photosynthesis the green part of the spectrum was absorbed by photosynthetic bacteria in the ocean above them, which used bacteriorhodopsin. The reason the bacteria evolved to use the green part of the spectrum is obvious, as the sun's output is at its highest point at those wavelengths. Classic example of exploiting a niche, plants aren't green arbitrarily.
On the topic of dreams, I don't think its unreasonable to suggest that 'imagination' is a favoured trait, and therefore individuals that develop an involuntary impulse to devote the time that is otherwise wasted (as far as productive mental exercise goes) to unrestrained imagination are more likely to be successful. If you've ever thought up the answer to a problem while dreaming then it's already shown a direct positive impact which you wouldn't have without dreams.
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