• Question: Why do we forget dreams but remember nightmares?

    Asked by nikki27 to Dilwar, Lou, Rachel, Simon, Susan on 18 Nov 2013. This question was also asked by 12geshao.
    • Photo: Simon Langley-Evans

      Simon Langley-Evans answered on 18 Nov 2013:

      All of us dream several times a night and we very rarely remember any of the things that we dream about. That is because we are sleeping when it happens and during sleep, unlike when we are awake, we are not trying to remember anything. The events of the dreams are thus forgotten. The dreams that we do remember are the ones that happen when we are only in a light sleep, or which are still happening when we wake up. If we are in a light sleep then our conscious mind is monitoring what is going on as well as the unconscious mind. I find that I can remember dreams that I have at the start of the night and than I can even influence what I dream by deliberately thinking of something as I drop off.

      We remember more nightmares because they are often more interesting than a normal happy dream. They alarm our unconscious brain and this means we store away some of what we dream of. Also a really scary dream is more likely to disturb us to the point where we wake up (to escape it) and that makes it memorable.

    • Photo: Louise Brown

      Louise Brown answered on 19 Nov 2013:

      I think because they are scary and we wake up from them quicker (when we get a shock or something) so it will be fresh in our mind (though I forget nightmares too in the morning! I remember I had a scary dream, but not what it was about!) . Just realised Simon already said this!

      I wish I could influence my dreams like you Simon! They’d all be about food though!

    • Photo: Dilwar Hussain

      Dilwar Hussain answered on 19 Nov 2013:

      Good question. I think it’s because as soon as we wake up from a nightmare, we take a brief moment to reflect on what just happened, and that memory stays with us for a short time. I find that when I apply the same thing to dreams, I remember them as well. The complicated nature as to why we have dreams means it’s difficult to give a more scientific explanation. I hope that helps.

    • Photo: Rachel Dakin

      Rachel Dakin answered on 19 Nov 2013:

      Hey Nikki,
      I’d not really thought about this before – I think I remember as many dreams as nightmares but now you’ve made the point I’m going to start counting!

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