But the catch is that the memory only lasts for a short time. Meir Kryger, a sleep medicine doctor at Yale Medicine, tells CNET that most people remember their dreams when they're awakened in the middle of a dream, or in the first few moments after a dream has ended. Part of this is biological, Kuras says, as neurotransmitters forming memory are less active during sleep, and dream forgetfulness also appears to be related to the level of electrical activity in the brain during dreams.Īdditionally, it could have something to do with the content of your dreams, Kuras says: Early psychoanalytic theory suggested that difficult or traumatic information in dreams is suppressed, and the dreamer is less likely to retrieve or analyze it.ĭr. If you're one of those people who "doesn't dream," you probably just forget them. One concept that's generally accepted is that dreaming is a highly emotional process, because the amygdala (an emotional center in your brain) is one of the areas of your brain that's most active during dreams, according to neuroimaging studies. But people without PTSD have nightmares, too, so it can't be said that nightmares always accompany psychological conditions. For example, researchers know that people with post-traumatic stress disorder are likely to have nightmares. While scientists know a great deal about what happens physiologically when people dream, there's still much to be studied about what happens psychologically. "They appear to assist in memory formation, integration, problem-solving and consolidation of ideas both about ourselves and the world," he says, adding that neuroscientists have discovered that dreams help with information processing and mood regulation, too. There are many theories of the function of dreams, Kuras says. That got me thinking: What small or manageable shifts could one make to their bedtime routine with the intention of welcoming a (more) restful slumber? With much-needed inspiration in mind, I turned to Chen for a peek inside her nightly wind-down ritual with hopes of picking up a few healthy habits for myself.Īhead, the CR sleep expert gives us a lowdown on the essentials that help her get the best snooze yet.Dreams may serve multiple purposes, including memory formation. That list includes modifications such as avoiding caffeine, attempting deep-breathing exercises, or establishing a consistent bedtime. adults (PDF) revealed that more than 70 percent of Americans had made changes or tried remedies to improve their sleep in the last year. An October 2022 nationally representative CR survey of over 2,000 U.S. She knows that daylight saving time does a number on our circadian rhythms and that a few simple behavioral tweaks-think a warm shower before bed or limiting screen time-can be a great way to induce slumber.Īnd sure, much of that is easier said than done. In fact, she’s spent 15 years digging into health trends, has reported extensively on mattresses-she’s tried well over a hundred of them-and has covered myriad topics related to sleep and how to get more of it.Ĭhen knows that a mattress is a foundation for a good snooze and that slipping into a great set of bed sheets can be a pampering experience. CR editor Joanne Chen knows the importance of getting a good night’s sleep.
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