(ANN/The Star/AFP) – Certain individuals awaken and recall their dream clearly, whereas for others, it’s entirely forgotten.
This puzzling discrepancy has intrigued scientists for years and is currently the subject of a recent study published in the journal Communications Psychology. Within it, researchers investigate the mechanisms affecting dream recollection, emphasising the different contributing factors.
Earlier research indicated that young individuals, women, and those inclined to daydream had a higher likelihood of recalling their dreams. Nonetheless, these results remained contentious, and it was uncertain if traits like personality or cognitive ability had any significant impact.
The Covid-19 pandemic rekindled interest in this question, with numerous people reporting more intense and frequent dreams during this period.
To investigate this phenomenon more thoroughly, researchers at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Italy, conducted a study involving over 200 participants aged between 18 and 70 from 2020 to 2024.
For 15 days, they recorded their dream memories on waking daily using a voice recorder.
Concurrently, the researchers utilised wearable devices to evaluate the quality of the participants’ sleep, and administered psychometric assessments to measure their cognitive abilities.
Every morning, the volunteers were requested to indicate if they clearly remembered a dream, if they retained a vague impression of it with no precise details, or if they had no recollection of their dreams.
The findings of the study indicate that the capacity to recall dreams differs significantly based on several factors.
Mindset is crucial, as individuals who maintain a positive outlook toward their aspirations and have a tendency to daydream were more inclined to recall them.
The arrangement of sleep additionally influences waking patterns, especially when light sleep stages are extended, making it more likely to awaken during a dream.
The participants’ age also appears to have a significant impact. Younger adults retain their dreams more easily, whereas older people are more prone to experience a dream impression without retaining its content, a phenomenon scientists call “white dreams”.
Finally, seasonality also influences dream memory. The study reveals that dream memories occur more often in spring compared to winter, a difference that may be associated with circadian rhythms and environmental variations.
In other words, remembering your dreams is not just a coincidence, “but a reflection of how personal attitudes, cognitive traits, and sleep dynamics interact,” explains study lead author and professor in general psychology Dr Giulio Bernardi in a news release.
This study highlights that dreaming is a complex occurrence, shaped by our mental state and biological factors. Aside from its scientific interest, this research illuminates fresh clinical viewpoints.
“Data collected within this project will serve as a reference for future comparisons with clinical populations,” adds study first author and researcher Dr Valentina Elce.
Understanding these alterations could make it possible to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of dreams in certain diseases.
So can we train ourselves to remember our dreams? Some specialists think so.
Before going to sleep, it’s beneficial to mentally affirm your intention to recall your dreams, ensuring this is the final thought of your day.
When you wake up, it’s best to avoid getting out of bed abruptly or allowing yourself to be distracted immediately – with your phone, for example.
Instead, sit still for a few moments and try to recall the sensations or images that cross your mind.
Keeping a dream diary can help.
Jotting down your thoughts immediately upon waking, whether as keywords or brief images, assists in solidifying memories and conditions the brain to concentrate on these ephemeral instances.
Even if no specific dream seems to be present, a simple detail can be enough to revive the memory of a buried dream.
