Scientists in Italy found certain traits associated with the ability to recall dreams
Most people likely know someone who frequently shares intriguing dreams, as they often can’t help but recount them.
You hear about the unexpected celebrities that appear, the strange betrayals encountered, and the crazy conversations that unfold, while many of us can recall only vague fragments from our slumber—if at all.
Some might feel envious of those who remember their dreams, but it turns out only a tiny fraction of us can do so effectively.
Everyone dreams, but not everyone can remember them (Getty Stock Photo)
In a 2021 survey by CBS News of 1,010 American adults, merely one in ten reported that they always remember their dreams.
So, what accounts for the differences in dream recall?
Researchers in Italy have identified both personal traits and external influences that affect our dream memory capabilities. Giulio Bernardi, a psychology professor at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, elaborated: “Our research indicates that dream recall is not merely coincidental but reflects the interplay of personal attitudes, cognitive characteristics, and sleep dynamics.”
The study involved over 200 participants who completed tests and responded to inquiries regarding their dream interests and tendencies to become distracted.
Participants wore a monitoring device to track sleep duration, quality, and disturbances, and for 15 days, they noted any dreams and provided descriptions when applicable.
After analyzing the data, researchers identified five characteristics associated with improved dream recall:
I am 23 yr old female and have been having the same/similar dreams in the same “dimension” for the past two years. They don’t occur every night but they are quite frequent and I am aware when I am there. I can also remember a few dreams from years ago/childhood vividly. I would love to dive deeper into this topic as I find it extremely interesting, if you have any advice or suggestions please let me know kindly!