Why do we dream more in some places than others?

Feeling sleepy? When people travel they often feel like they have dreamt more.


Asked by: Charlie Mack, Uckfield

Dreams most commonly occur during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, and are easier to remember if we wake during this stage of sleep or soon afterwards. Evolutionary theories emphasise the need to feel safe in order to lose vigilance and go to sleep, so we may sleep less well in a novel environment, or in rooms that are too hot, cold, noisy or uncomfortable. When we wake up more frequently during the night, we are more likely to remember our dreams. This gives us the impression that we dream more in certain places than others.

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