There are two types of dreams: visual and "thought-like" (which leave an impression of being awake on dreamer). The latter happens without any REM cum EEG fanfare. It seems that "model-adjustment" activities require abstract thinking (classification, theorizing, predicting, testing, etc.). The relationship is very much like one that exists between intuition and formalism, aesthetics and scientific discipline, feeling and thinking, mentally creating and committing one's creation to a medium.

All mammals exhibit same REM/EEG patterns and may, therefore, be dreaming as well. Some birds do it, and some reptiles as well. Dreaming seems to be associated with brain stem (Pontine tegmentum) and with secretion of Norepinephrine and Serotonin in brain. The rhythm of breathing and pulse rate change and skeletal muscles are relaxed to point of paralysis (presumably, to prevent injury if dreamer should decide to engage in enacting his dream). Blood flows to genitals (and induces penile erections in male dreamers). The uterus contracts and muscles at base of tongue enjoy a relaxation in electrical activity.

These facts would indicate that dreaming is a very primordial activity. It is essential to survival. It is not necessarily connected to higher functions like speech but it is connected to reproduction and to biochemistry of brain. The construction of a "world-view", a model of reality is as critical to survival of an ape as it is to ours. And mentally disturbed and mentally retarded dream as much as normal do. Such a model can be innate and genetic in very simple forms of life because amount of information that needs to be incorporated is limited. Beyond a certain amount of information that individual is likely to be exposed to daily, two needs arise. The first is to maintain model of world by eliminating "noise" and by realistically incorporating negating data and second is to pass on function of modelling and remodelling to a much more flexible structure, to brain. In a way, dreams are about constant generation, construction and testing of theories regarding dreamer and his ever-changing internal and external environments. Dreams are scientific community of Self. That Man carried it further and invented Scientific Activity on a larger, external, scale is small wonder.

Physiology also tells us differences between dreaming and other hallucinatory states (nightmares, psychoses, sleepwalking, daydreaming, hallucinations, illusions and mere imagination): REM/EEG patterns are absent and latter states are much less "real". Dreams are mostly set in familiar places and obey laws of nature or some logic. Their hallucinatory nature is a hermeneutic imposition. It derives mainly from their erratic, abrupt behaviour (space, time and goal discontinuities) which is ONE of elements in hallucinations as well.

Why is dreaming conducted while we sleep? Probably, there is something in it which requires what sleep has to offer: limitation of external, sensory, inputs (especially visual ones – hence compensatory strong visual element in dreams). An artificial environment is sought in order to maintain this periodical, self-imposed deprivation, static state and reduction in bodily functions. In last 6-7 hours of every sleep session, 40% of people wake up. About 40% - possibly same dreamers – report that they had a dream in relevant night. As we descend into sleep (the hypnagogic state) and as we emerge from it (the hypnopompic state) – we have visual dreams. But they are different. It is as though we are "thinking" these dreams. They have no emotional correlate, they are transient, undeveloped, abstract and expressly deal with day residues. They are "garbage collectors", "sanitation department" of brain. Day residues, which clearly do not need to be processed by dreams – are swept under carpet of consciousness (maybe even erased).

Suggestible people dream what they have been instructed to dream in hypnosis – but not what they have been so instructed while (partly) awake and under direct suggestion. This further demonstrates independence of Dream Mechanism. It almost does not react to external sensory stimuli while in operation. It takes an almost complete suspension of judgement in order to influence contents of dreams.

It would all seem to point at another important feature of dreams: their economy. Dreams are subject to four "articles of faith" (which govern all phenomena of life):

Asperger's Disorder is often misdiagnosed as Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), though evident as early as age 3 (while pathological narcissism cannot be safely diagnosed prior to early adolescence).

In both cases, patient is self-centered and engrossed in a narrow range of interests and activities. Social and occupational interactions are severely hampered and conversational skills (the give and take of verbal intercourse) are primitive. The Asperger's patient body language - eye to eye gaze, body posture, facial expressions - is constricted and artificial, akin to narcissist's. Nonverbal cues are virtually absent and their interpretation in others lacking.

Yet, gulf between Asperger's and pathological narcissism is vast.

The narcissist switches between social agility and social impairment voluntarily. His social dysfunctioning is outcome of conscious haughtiness and reluctance to invest scarce mental energy in cultivating relationships with inferior and unworthy others. When confronted with potential Sources of Narcissistic Supply, however, narcissist easily regains his social skills, his charm, and his gregariousness.

Many narcissists reach highest rungs of their community, church, firm, or voluntary organization. Most of time, they function flawlessly - though inevitable blowups and grating extortion of Narcissistic Supply usually put an end to narcissist's career and social liaisons.

The Asperger's patient often wants to be accepted socially, to have friends, to marry, to be sexually active, and to sire offspring. He just doesn't have a clue how to go about it. His affect is limited. His initiative - for instance, to share his experiences with nearest and dearest or to engage in foreplay - is thwarted. His ability to divulge his emotions stilted. He is incapable or reciprocating and is largely unaware of wishes, needs, and feelings of his interlocutors or counterparties.