Why some people remember dreams (and others don't)

Reminiscing about dreams is an intricate task influenced by a variety of factors. People's ability to recall their dreams varies, with some remembering them with clarity, while others struggle to recall anything.

A fascinating idea proposes that the dreams we recall aren't created during REM sleep directly. Instead, they actually emerge when we wake up.

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Sleep is divided into distinct periods, featuring slow-wave and REM sleep phases. Contrary to a common misconception, dreams take place during more than just REM sleep.

• During this phase, most people report experiencing dreams that are usually monochromatic, serene, and visually reminiscent of specific events from the previous day.
• Dreams during this stage are often more vibrant, realistic, and disjointed. This is when most of the dreams we remember take place.

Factors influencing dream recall

1. Time of awakening
• Dreams that occur close to waking tend to be better recalled.
• The most vivid dream narratives are usually experienced during sudden wake-ups that happen near the end of the night, or shortly after being in REM sleep for a few minutes.
2. Night-time awakenings
• Individuals who frequently wake up multiple times a night tend to recall their dreams more frequently.
• Waking up for approximately two minutes appears to be necessary for the brain to record the dream, even though these wake-ups are not always recalled.
3. Brain activity
• During rapid eye movement sleep, regions of the brain linked to emotions are highly active, while those connected to logic are "switched off".
• The specific brain activity being referred to could account for the unpredictable and emotional nature of the dreams that we typically recall.
4. Individual differences
• Some individuals appear to have a natural inclination to recall their dreams, which may be tied to variations in brain arrangement or operation.
5. Physiological conditions
• Conditions like antidepressants, Alzheimer's disease, or advanced age can sometimes lead to reduced or suppressed REM sleep, which can impair the ability to remember dreams.

Theories on dream recall

Some people think that the dreams we recall aren't actually from when our brains are in REM sleep. Instead, they think that dreams appear when our brains wake up, and the rational parts of our brain kick in to make sense of the weird, dreamlike things our brains created while we were in REM sleep.

In conclusion, the ability to recall dreams depends on the interplay between various factors, including different sleep stages, the timing and frequency of waking up, brain activity during sleep, and personal characteristics. This intricacy is the reason some people commonly remember their dreams, whereas others hardly ever do.

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