KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
Many people believe that hidden truths present themselves in dreams, and it's a view that's consistent across cultural lines and around the globe.
According to findings from Carnegie Mellon University, dreams also affect how people act when they are awake, and an impactful dream can change a person's actions.
A survey of Boston commuters found that when they dreamed of a plane crash the night before a scheduled air trip, they would be more likely to change their travel plans.
Perhaps the most important point is that the interpretation of dreams is still in its infancy, and much more needs to be learned, but the potential impact could be dramatic.