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

An interesting theory suggests that the dreams we remember don't come directly from REM sleep. Rather, they appear when we wake up.

Sleep phases and dream recall

Sleep is built around different phases, including slow-wave and REM sleep. Contrary to widespread belief, dreams do not only occur during REM sleep.

Factors influencing dream recall

Theories on dream recall

An interesting theory suggests that the dreams we remember don't come directly from REM sleep. Rather, they appear upon awakening, when the rational areas of the brain, then animated, come to restore logic and meaning to the chimerical creations of our REM sleep.

In conclusion, the ability to remember dreams depends on a complex interplay between sleep phases, the timing and frequency of awakenings, specific brain activity during sleep, and individual factors. This complexity explains why some people regularly remember their dreams, while others rarely do.

(MH with LM /Picture: Rafal Jedrzejek via Unsplash)

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