Do spiders dream?

Do spiders sleep? - 26th September 2022

New research claims that spiders sleep and have dreams. Dr Rossler, an ecologist at the University of Konstanz, examined the sleeping habits of young jumping spiders. She found evidence of REM (Rapid Eye Movement), which suggests that they're dreaming.

Dr Rossler noticed that the young spiders move their eyes every 20 minutes. Their abdomens and legs also had sudden movements in the same way dogs do while having a nap. These are signs of REM sleep.

Humans and other animals like dogs and monkeys experience REM sleep, but scientists are uncertain why. Some believe it helps muscle memory, which suggests that the young spiders might be developing their muscles for hunting. However, in humans, REM sleep helps decrease stress.

People who fear spiders sometimes have nightmares about them, but spiders also experience bad dreams, according to Dr Rossler. While the spiders are hanging, peacefully sleeping, they often jump awake and stretch all their legs.

There isn't enough evidence to know for sure if spiders sleep or dream. However, they appear to be resting, but this looks different in animals. Frogs sleep for weeks or months, while some mammals and birds sleep with only half of their brains.

Spiders' brains are challenging to study as they are too small, which means we may never know if they sleep or dream. Scientists believe that if spiders really dream, humans might become less terrified of them.

“If they dream, I mean, what can you do? You cannot smush a spider that dreams,” added Dr Rossler.