Why Can’t We Remember Our Dreams?

Imagine you're playing a game, and just as you win, the lights go out, and when they come back on, you can’t remember what happened. That’s kind of like how we forget our dreams. When we sleep, our brain has different levels: one where we dream (called REM) and another that helps us remember things (like a librarian organizing books). But during REM sleep, the part of the brain that helps us remember things is quiet, so it’s like your librarian took a break just as you won the game.

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Examples

  1. A child wakes up after a dream about flying dolphins but forgets the whole thing within seconds.
  2. You dream of being on a spaceship, but when you wake up, all that’s left is a vague sense of movement.
  3. After dreaming about winning the lottery, you forget it as soon as your eyes open.

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