We are the sensors of consciousness! A review and analysis on how awakenings during sleep influence dream recall
bioRxiv – November 13, 2024
Source: medRxiv/bioRxiv/arXiv
Summary
Awakening during sleep can significantly boost dream recall. This study explores how different awakening methods affect memory of dreams, considering factors like personality and motivation. Findings reveal that those awakened in lighter sleep stages report more vivid dreams, highlighting the connection between consciousness and dream experiences.
Abstract
Purpose Since the 1930s, researchers have awakened people from different stages of sleep to record what they have experienced. While some aspects, including asking whether participants had dreams or thoughts before awakening, largely remain the same, others, such as the method of awakening, vary greatly. In addition, it is often assumed that the influence of participant characteristics, such as personality traits, motivation, memory, and attention, is reduced by collecting experiences immediately after they occur, rather than through delayed morning recall. However, the extent to which these variables influence dream recall upon awakening has not yet been thoroughly investigated.