I had a very cool dream last night that I recalled just after waking. Now, a few hours later, I can’t even recall what it was about must less the details.
So here’s the question – why is it that if I notice the most mundane event in ewaking life I can typically recall that. I see Joe walking down the street and two weeks later I can tell Joe – “Hey I saw you walking down Main Street a couple of weeks ago.” Yet, if I dream that Joe’s balls caught on fire and 17 devils took him kicking and screaming to hell I don’t recall that five minutes after I wake up. Aren’t both ‘experience’ located in the brain. Why do I recall the waking experience BUT NOT the dream experience? Does this have something to do with the reason for dreaming? That is, if a dream’s purpose is to clean house – maybe it would be counter-productive to add an additional memory in the process –
What-U- think?
Gut reaction is you’re right. If the brain has to remember all the stuff that happens while it’s rearranging things, then it might get a bit confusing.
Alternatively, the memory ‘function’ in the brain may actually be turned off during this process.
As soon as you wake up, summarize the dream out loud or in writing. That’ll lock it in your memory pretty well.
Your dreams are your brains attempts to understand random images that flashes thru it. These images have no set pattern and are pretty much made up all in your head. In computer terms, its in temporary memory that the consious portion of brain uses for short term memory. Once you use that portion, your recollection of the dream is gone.
Vlad’s idea is sound, it allows the brain to take what you remember and transfer it into long term memory storage. However the act of trying to recall your dream aloud also uses up short term memory space and you’ll find that you dont recall all the details of your great dream.
One thing you should note that emotional responses in your dream can be intense and earthshaking but your logical brain may dismiss it as nonsense, the emotion is then repressed. So sometimes in dreaming you could have an orgasm if you dip your dick in a pool of water. Awake, your brain goes WTF??!
There are some very effective techniques for increasing dream recall. Firstly, practice waking up with your eyes closed (so people do this naturally, some people don’t). As soon as the “outside world” enters your mind, it begins overwritting your dream memory. With your eyes closed, imagine you that you can remember your dream(s) and you should indeed start recalling little bits and pieces. Initially it doesn’t matter how much you can remember, little segments are find. Open your eyes and write down whatever small details you can remember. The very act of putting effort into remembering your dreams in effect “reprograms” your mind into storing the dream memories into a more permanent location.
Also, everybody has MANY dreams EVERY night; there is common misconception that one only dreams occasionaly – “hey, I had a dream last night!” No, you have many dreams every night. BTW, I can reliably remember 3 dreams/night.
I have many dreams a night and can pretty reliably remember them for a short time in the morning. I cannot remember them later in the day unless I have consciously put an effort into remembering.
The odd thing that happens to me is that when I go to bed at night and assume my “I’m going to sleep now” position, I sometimes remember parts of my morning dream(s)!