We forget our dreams mostly because of how our brain processes and stores memories during sleep, especially during the REM (rapid eye movement) phase when most dreaming occurs. Key reasons include:
- During REM sleep, neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, which are important for memory consolidation, are at very low levels, making it difficult for the brain to transfer dream experiences from short-term to long-term memory.
- The hippocampus, the brain region crucial for memory formation, is less active during REM sleep, so dreams are stored temporarily but not well encoded for lasting recall.
- Dreams are often fragmented, illogical, or lack a coherent narrative, which also makes them harder to remember when awake.
- If a person wakes up outside of REM sleep or too abruptly, dream recall becomes less likely.
- Stress, poor sleep quality, age, and lack of attention upon waking can further impair remembering dreams.
- Additionally, there may be an evolutionary or protective brain mechanism called dream amnesia that helps us forget intense or disturbing dreams to maintain emotional balance.
For better dream recall, waking up during or right after REM sleep, keeping a dream journal, and setting intentions to remember dreams can help.
