Factors that might influence dream recall

[Luminous]

Not much is known about what influences our ability to remember dreams. I have collected a list of factors that might influence dream recall based on online research, personal experience, and the experience of others who are active on lucid dreaming forums. I'd also love to hear about your thoughts and personal experiences, so comments are encouraged!

- Your interest in dreams. This one is a given. You are more likely to remember your dreams when you are interested in dreams, and we all fall into this category.

- If you are a heavy or light sleeper. If you are a light sleeper, you are more likely to remember your dreams more easily.

-How much sleep you are getting. If you are not getting enough sleep, you will probably remember less. It's easier to remember your dreams (and anything else) when you feel rested.

- How you wake up. If you are abruptly awakened by an alarm clock in the morning, you are less likely to remember what you were dreaming.

-How many awakenings you have a night. When you wake right up from a dream, you are more likely to remember it, so if you wake up several times during the night, you might remember more dreams from that night.

- Stress. Stress pretty much kills dream recall.

- Dream content. We are more likely to remember dreams that felt important to us and made an impact, especially nightmares.

- Lucidity. Although we can't be sure, it is believed that lucid dreams are easier to remember than non lucid dream.

I haven't taken personality traits into consideration because as I've searched around for resources, they state that not enough research has been done to back up any theories concerning this. So here I will conclude: If you are a "dreamer", you will have better dream recall.

[Hazel]

- If you are a heavy or light sleeper. If you are a light sleeper, you are more likely to remember your dreams more easily.

This is one of the reasons why I love being a light sleeper.

-How much sleep you are getting. If you are not getting enough sleep, you will probably remember less. It's easier to remember your dreams (and anything else) when you feel rested.

What would the affect be if you got too much sleep rather than too little?

- How you wake up. If you are abruptly awakened by an alarm clock in the morning, you are less likely to remember what you were dreaming.

This is why I never even use my alarm clock. It scares me to death if it ever goes off. Instead, I use one of those digital watches that has an alarm. It is much quieter and wakes me gently, rather than jerking me out of my dreams. (Occasionally the beeping will even play some part in the dream before it wakes me up.)

[Specialis Sapientia]

I agree with all your points Lumi

But the most important is "Interest in dreams", because with interest the rest follows.

Really a shame that the majority of (western) people have little interest in dreams and its potentials.

[pj]

I believe that nutrition and hydration can both have a bearing on recall, as well as physical and mental exhaustion quite apart from "stress".  I tend to have decent recall when my physical levels of activity are high and less recall when mental levels of activity are high.  there is a lot of writing out there regarding the effects of nutrients on vividness of dreams and recall, and my experience correlates much of it to some degree - though not consistently.

State of excitement when going to bed seems to be a factor for me.  A quiet evening where I can "wind down" to sleep seems to produce better recall than going to bed "pumped" after jamming or something.

Ambient lighting and sounds can "leak into" my dreams and have various influences.  (I LOVE napping to New Age music.  It always seems to produce very colorful and easy to remember dreams!)

I'm sure there are more, and I certainly agree with the many other factors you listed.  These are just a few of my own experiences.  Trying to recognize and isolate variables that influence my dreaming has been an ongoing thing for years now.

[Burned up]

Not much is known about what influences our ability to remember dreams. I have collected a list of factors that might influence dream recall based on online research, personal experience, and the experience of others who are active on lucid dreaming forums. I'd also love to hear about your thoughts and personal experiences, so comments are encouraged!

- Your interest in dreams. This one is a given. You are more likely to remember your dreams when you are interested in dreams, and we all fall into this category.

Can't dispute that.

- If you are a heavy or light sleeper. If you are a light sleeper, you are more likely to remember your dreams more easily.

Can't dispute that either.

-How much sleep you are getting. If you are not getting enough sleep, you will probably remember less. It's easier to remember your dreams (and anything else) when you feel rested.

I'd say that depends on the pattern of sleep.  Some of my most productive nights, dream-wise, have been when I've had littles sleep.  On the other hand, too little sleep can also mean very deep sleep and not much REM.

- How you wake up. If you are abruptly awakened by an alarm clock in the morning, you are less likely to remember what you were dreaming.

Yes, that's my experience too.  Indeed anything that takes our attention on waking.

-How many awakenings you have a night. When you wake right up from a dream, you are more likely to remember it, so if you wake up several times during the night, you might remember more dreams from that night.

Yes, with you again on that.

- Stress. Stress pretty much kills dream recall.

Like the alarm clock, waking up with something grabbing our attention.  I'd like to add anger to stress here.

- Dream content. We are more likely to remember dreams that felt important to us and made an impact, especially nightmares.

I'm never sure about that.  I mean, how can we know what we don't recall?

- Lucidity. Although we can't be sure, it is believed that lucid dreams are easier to remember than non lucid dream.

Ditto.  Although lucid dreams certainly seem to leave more of a impression on wakening.

I haven't taken personality traits into consideration because as I've searched around for resources, they state that not enough research has been done to back up any theories concerning this. So here I will conclude: If you are a "dreamer", you will have better dream recall.
[/quote]

I think personality categorisation is highly subjective anyway.  In my experience, getting into the habit of DJing on wakening is the single most important factor of recall.  Perhaps some people find it harder than others to do this despite how much they might think they want to maintain their DJ.  Others don't seem to need a DJ to remember dreams.  Lucky people!

[Luminous]

Well, how easily we remember our dreams are very individual.

If you get too much sleep, then that might also have a negative effect as you will then have had more dreams, and even though you might remember more than usual, even more might be forgotten. I think this is something that might go one way or the other.

[mu]

IMO, the number one factor is desire.

I'll be completely honest.  I'm always interested in remembering my dreams, and I like to complain a lot about recall in my DJ, but..  interest is not enough.

Of course everyone here is fascinated with dreams, but it's hard to maintain enthusiasm every single night.  Many nights I go to sleep, hoping, but not strongly wanting, to get lucid or have good recall.  Sometimes it even seems like I don't want it, because I'm lazy, and I don't want to record ten dreams in detail.

This never lasts, and if it goes on long enough, I begin to very strongly desire to have lucidity and recall.  Or, I may see or hear something that similarly inspires me.  Now, if I go to sleep in such a state, bordering on obsession, I almost never fail to have ridiculously good recall, and relentless lucidity, in proportion to my desire.

The problem is, it's not enough to think you really want it, or tell yourself, etc. .  It has to be genuine desire.  If it is, I believe it's possible to have and remember incredible dreams under any circumstances.

Having said that, I do agree strongly with all the other factors, and of course good recall is possible without desire; it's sufficient, but not necessary.  It is, however, the only seemingly constant factor in my personal experience.

[Luminous]

Very good point, mu. I still believe that the number one factor that influences dream recall is individual, but desire (and motivation) is very important.

[Sunshine]

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