• Question: Why do we only remember some dreams and not others?

    Asked by annaclare to Aled, Ellie, Fiona, Kev, Willem on 11 Mar 2014.
    • Photo: Fiona Heesen

      Fiona Heesen answered on 11 Mar 2014:

      Hi annaclare,

      Such an interesting question! I have often wondered that myself, particularly since I am an avid dreamer, and often wake up and think about my dreams. From what I can tell, it is because the brain mechanism that controls whether we remember or forget things when we are awake is active when we sleep as well. According to some scientists, we often remember events that are emotionally charged and that the brain deems as important – both when we are asleep and when we are awake. This means that if our dreams trigger emotions in us (similar to thoughts we have when awake) we are probably more like to remember them!

      Perhaps other scientists have other information to add!

      Thanks again for your question,

      Fiona

    • Photo: Eleanor Parker

      Eleanor Parker answered on 13 Mar 2014:

      Hi annaclare,
      In addition to what Fiona’s said, we often remember dreams we have in REM sleep (rapid eye movement sleep, which usually occurs when we are close to waking up) because our brain is actually mostly still awake. We also occasionally remember dreams from deeper sleep, which as Fiona says, most scientists think is because they are strong emotional dreams.

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