The research, published in ‘Communications Psychology’, focused on understanding why only some people are able to remember what they dream when nearly all people dream when they sleep. According to the study, these dream experiences are based on memories and beliefs previously acquired and, therefore, they show continuity with the thoughts, concerns, and experiences one has when awake.
To achieve their goal, the experts recruited 204 participants, 113 women and 91 men aged between 18 and 70, through word of mouth and the distribution of virtual and paper flyers. They only included individuals with regular sleep/wake patterns, who slept between six and eight hours per night and did not have a diagnosis of sleep-related problems or any other pathological condition that could have compromised their sleep.
Between March 2020 and March 2024, each participant underwent a selection interview followed by the completion of a set of questionnaires; a 15-day experimental stage to collect sleep patterns and morning dream reports; and a final session consisting of a battery of cognitive tests.
As a result, the researchers identified three factors related to the likelihood of knowing that one has dreamed upon waking up; these are attitude towards dreams, propensity for mind wandering, and sleep patterns. Additionally, vulnerability to interference during sleep and age influence the ability to remember exactly what one has dreamed.
Regarding attitude towards dreams, the results indicate that people who attach greater importance to dreaming are more likely to report the experience of having dreamed upon waking up, but this increased interest does not necessarily improve their ability to remember the content of the dream.
The tendency for mind wandering does seem to be positively related in this study to the recall of dreams. The association between mind wandering, that is, ‘daydreaming’, and the observed recall of dreams may indicate a greater propensity to spontaneously generate dream experiences, regardless of external stimuli and wakeful states.
Furthermore, sleep patterns also influence recall, with those who have long and light sleep episodes having a greater probability of knowing what they have dreamed. At this point, the study suggests that there are seasonal variations, so that during winter people tend to remember their dreams less than in spring and autumn.
In addition to these factors, individual differences in the ability to remember dream content depend on vulnerability to interference and age. Aging may be associated with changes in sleep patterns, particularly a decrease in long and light sleep periods, which can affect dream recall processes.
In line with this, the study team worked on what are known as white dreams, when there is a perception of having been dreaming but no features of the dream can be remembered. In this sense, they observed that long and light sleep episodes are equally associated with this phenomenon.
«This research reinforces the idea that dreams are conditioned by interindividual and intraindividual factors, opening new perspectives for understanding their connection with memory and the human mind,» stated the study coordinator, Giulio Bernardi.
The professional emphasized that dreams play an «essential role» in learning, memory consolidation, and even mental and physical health, highlighting the importance of studying them.
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