Scientists have discovered a “sleep trick” that enhances the ability to recall dreams. Italian researchers have revealed that dreaming and fantasizing improve your ability to remember subconscious details during sleep. Experiments with 200 participants highlighted how factors like age and season affect people’s ability to remember their dreams. Scientists from IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca monitored participants’ sleep and recorded dream memories for 15 days. Participants also underwent psychological tests evaluating anxiety levels, interest in dreams, and tendency to fantasize.

Research showed that mind-wandering may be a factor that enhances dream recall, such as daydreaming. Those who were more successful at remembering dreams were found to view dreams as beneficial for health and be individuals whose minds frequently wander. Participants who were in deeper sleep struggled to recall dreams, while those in lighter sleep stages showed better recall abilities.

Furthermore, younger individuals were more successful in remembering dreams, while older individuals often experienced “white dreams” where specific details were forgotten. This phenomenon was attributed to age-related memory changes. Seasonal effects were also notable in the research. Participants who took part in the sleep experiment in spring were better at recalling dreams compared to those in winter. Scientists suggested that increased exposure to sunlight could affect dream recall ability.

The study’s author, psychology expert Professor Giulio Bernardi, stated that the findings indicate dream recall is a complex process influenced by personal attitudes, cognitive features, and sleep dynamics. The research aims to lay a foundation for future studies aimed at understanding the recall of dreams.