Have you ever woken up with a vivid memory of a dream, while someone else remembers nothing at all? A new study by researchers at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, in collaboration with the University of Camerino, sheds light on why some people recall their dreams better than others. Published in Communications Psychology, the research explores the individual traits and sleep patterns that influence dream recall.
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Some studies suggest that younger people, women, or those who frequently daydream tend to recall dreams more often. However, other research has failed to confirm these findings.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of increased dream recall brought renewed attention to this topic, prompting further investigation into its underlying causes.
What the Study Found About Dream Recall
The study, conducted between 2020 and 2024, involved over 200 participants aged 18 to 70. For 15 days, participants recorded their dreams daily, describing what they remembered upon waking. They also wore sleep-monitoring wrist devices, known as actigraphs, to track sleep duration, efficiency, and disturbances. On top of that, they completed psychological tests assessing factors such as anxiety, memory, attention, and the tendency to let their minds wander.
The researchers found that dream recall varies widely from person to person and is influenced by several key factors:
People with a positive attitude toward dreams and a tendency to daydream were more likely to remember their dreams.
Sleep patterns played an important role: those who spent more time in light sleep were more likely to wake up with dream memories.
Younger individuals reported higher dream recall, whereas older participants often experienced "white dreams"—the feeling of having dreamt without remembering any details.
Seasonal changes also had an impact, with participants recalling fewer dreams in winter compared to spring.
Interesting article: Persistent nightmares from your late 30s to early 60s could be linked to an elevated dementia risk - (Universal-Sci)
What This Means for Understanding the Mind
According to lead author Professor Giulio Bernardi, dream recall is not random but is shaped by a combination of cognitive traits, personal attitudes, and sleep dynamics. This research not only helps explain why some people remember dreams better than others but also offers insights into mental health and consciousness studies.
Researcher Valentina Elce adds that the data from this study will provide a valuable reference for future research, particularly in understanding how dream disturbances relate to mental health conditions. While dream recall remains a complex and individual experience, this study brings us one step closer to understanding the fascinating world of dreaming.
If you are interested in more details about the underlying study, be sure to check out the paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Communications Psychology, listed below.
Sources, further reading and related articles:
The individual determinants of morning dream recall (Communications Psychology)
Scientists discover that it is possible to communicate with people while they dream - (Universal-Sci)
I’m a lucid dream researcher – here’s how to train your brain to do it - (Universal-Sci)
Why you don't actually need 8 hours of sleep per night - (Universal-Sci)
Our dreams have many purposes, changing across the lifespan - (Universal-Sci)
Frequent nightmares between your late 30s and early 60s linked to a heightened risk of dementia - (Universal-Sci)
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