"Unlock Dream Recall: Surprising Daytime Habit Connection Revealed!"

Study: Enhancing Dream Recall Through Daydreaming

If you’ve ever struggled to remember your dreams upon waking, you’re not alone. According to a study conducted by the sleep product company Purple, around 53% of people remember dreaming but can only recall “some details”. On the other hand, a small percentage—14%—can clearly remember most details of their dreams, while 16% reported not being able to recollect their dreams at all.

Italian researchers recently delved into the reasons why some individuals are more likely to remember their dreams compared to others. Their study, published in the journal Communications Psychology, involved 217 adult participants ranging from 18 to 70 years of age, predominantly from the MoMiLab Research Unit lab at the IMT School for Advanced Studies in Lucca, Italy.

These participants underwent various assessments and met specific criteria, including maintaining regular sleep schedules, getting six to eight hours of sleep each night, not having any sleep-related disorders, refraining from alcohol or drug abuse, and not taking medications that could impact their sleep patterns.

During the study, the participants completed questionnaires related to their attitudes towards dreams, anxiety levels, and sleep quality. Additionally, they were asked to record their thoughts upon waking using voice recorders and were provided with devices to monitor their sleep-wake patterns. Researchers also randomly contacted the participants during the day to document their thought processes 15 minutes prior.

After 15 days, the participants were evaluated for processing speed, cognitive interference susceptibility, and various memory types, such as episodic, verbal, and visual memory. The results of the study revealed several factors that could influence dream recall:

• Age: Younger participants tended to remember more details about their dreams, while older participants experienced “white dreams,” where dream memories fade quickly upon waking.
• Seasonal Influence: People were more likely to remember their dreams during spring compared to winter, potentially due to environmental and circadian changes.
• Intentional Dream Recall: Individuals who actively tried to remember their dreams showed an increased likelihood of dream recall.

Surprisingly, the study found that individuals who tend to daydream are more likely to remember their dreams. The study suggests that those who daydream may pay more attention to their internal states and subjective experiences, enhancing their dream recall.

If you wish to improve your dream recall beyond daydreaming, consider keeping a journal or voice recorder next to your bed to capture your thoughts upon waking. For more insights on wellness, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram.

Article originally posted on The Healthy