This article explores the science behind why we forget our dreams and offers tips on how to remember them more vividly. It discusses the role of REM sleep, the impact of age and lifestyle factors on dream recall, and strategies for improving dream memory.
I used to have vivid, intense dreams as a child, details of which I would nag my siblings about for hours. But sometime in my early 20s, they became less frequent. I estimate I have about three nights of memorable dreams a week now. Over half of Brits say they rarely or never remember their dreams; women are more likely than men to recall their nighttime visions. We've all been told that everyone sleeps every night, and that nobody 'doesn't dream'- they might just struggle to remember them.
To understand the science behind this, I spoke with Dr. Kaylor, a psychologist who specializes in sleep (and who has a book coming out this year covering sleep among first responders), to see what the experts say. The adage is often true, Dr. Kaylor says ― 'for the most part, people dream every night, but what typically happens is that we forget our dreams'. 'Unless they are very vivid or terrifying, dreams usually slip through our fingers as we wake, and we forget what we dreamed about almost immediately.' That's partly because dreams happen during REM sleep; if you're awakened during that phase, your dreams might feel especially 'real' and vivid. As a result, 'the timing in which you wake up during or right after a dream can determine how likely you are to remember it,' the psychologist told us. 'Interestingly, people who are considered to be more creative or introspective are more likely to remember their dreams,' she added. Why did I dream so much more when I was younger, and how can I remember my dreams as an adult? If, like me, you thought you dreamt way more as a kid, Dr. Kaylor explains that that's because 'Kids spend a lot more time in REM sleep compared to adults'. That's because their brains are working hard to grow and develop, she says; they may also need more REM sleep for emotional regulation and memory. If you want to go back to those dreamy days, the psychologist says writing your dreams down in a journal as soon as you wake up can help. Even small fragments can aid recall, she says ― 'If you only remember small bits of the dream, try to work backwards to uncover more'. She adds that waking up without an alarm, if possible, can really get the brain whirring too, as 'an abrupt awakening can disrupt the memory of dreams'. Good sleep hygiene makes memorising dreams easier too, and so (good news for fellow lie-in lovers) does lying down for a little after you’ve awoken. Dream
DREAMS REM SLEEP DREAM RECALL SLEEP HYGIENE PSYCHOLOGY
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