Every night, billions of people across the globe surrender to sleep, slipping seamlessly from the world of conscious experience into the mysterious territory of dreams and, at times, oblivion. Although this nightly journey is so routine that few pause to question it, scientists and philosophers alike have long been fascinated by what happens to our consciousness as we sleep—and why some of us awaken with vivid memories of our dreams, while others recall nothing but blankness.
On August 20, 2025, two recent reports—one philosophical, the other scientific—have brought fresh insights into the nature of consciousness during sleep and the factors that shape our ability to remember dreams. Together, these perspectives illuminate not only what it means to "be" during sleep, but also why the dream world is so elusive for many upon waking.
The first report, published by Big Think, dives into the enigma of consciousness and its nightly disappearance. Drawing on the work of philosopher Thomas Nagel, who famously asked in 1974, "What is it like to be a bat?", the article challenges readers to consider an even more basic question: What is it like to be anything at all? According to Big Think, our experience of consciousness is shaped by a constant exchange with our environment—sensory input flows in, motor output flows out—anchoring us in the present moment. But when sleep descends, this architecture dissolves and rearranges itself.
Neuroscientists have mapped the stages of sleep using electroencephalogram (EEG) technology, revealing two broad arenas: non-REM and REM sleep. In the deepest stages of non-REM sleep, cortical neurons fall into slow, rhythmic oscillations, punctuated by stretches of silence. Subjectively, this state is described as a total annihilation of "is-ness"—a time when conscious experience vanishes. As Big Think puts it, "We fall into non-REM sleep knowing what it’s like to be—and then, nothing."
Yet, consciousness is not lost forever. In REM sleep, which is marked by fast, desynchronized brain activity and muscle paralysis, the lights come back on inside the brain. The visual cortex and emotional circuits blaze with activity, matching or even exceeding daytime levels. Outwardly, the body is still and unresponsive, but inside, dreams unfold—internally generated episodes of consciousness constructed in a perceptual vacuum. However, these dreams typically lack metacognition, or "awareness of awareness." Most dreamers simply exist within their dreams, without realizing they are dreaming.
Lucid dreaming, though rare, offers a fascinating exception. In these moments, sleepers become aware that they are dreaming and can sometimes exert control over the dream narrative. Researchers in sleep labs have trained dreamers to signal lucidity through deliberate eye movements, which can be tracked using electrooculography (EOG). Functional MRI and EEG data show that the onset of lucidity coincides with partial reactivation of brain regions responsible for metacognition, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex. As Big Think explains, "When a dream becomes lucid, it’s not the experience that changes but the frame around it. The lights were on the whole time, and now, you know it."
While the philosophical and neuroscientific exploration of sleep and dreams asks what it is like to "be" in the absence of memory, agency, or self-reflection, a new scientific study published in Communications Psychology and reported by Big Think offers clues as to why some people remember their dreams more vividly than others. Conducted by Italian scientists from the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, the study involved 200 volunteers aged 18 to 70, each of whom wore sleep monitors and recorded their dream recollections over 15 days. Participants also completed psychological assessments measuring anxiety, interest in dreams, and their tendency to daydream.
The study’s findings challenge the notion that dream recall is purely random. Instead, it appears to be a complex process shaped by psychological traits, sleep patterns, and even environmental factors. One striking discovery was that frequent daydreamers were far more likely to remember their dreams. According to the researchers, daydreaming strengthens the brain’s memory and imagination networks, making it easier to bring dream details into waking awareness.
Attitude also played a significant role. People who valued dreaming or considered it meaningful were more likely to recall their dreams, while those uninterested in dreams often forgot them. This suggests that believing dreams matter can reinforce dream memory. Sleep patterns, too, were influential: longer phases of light sleep (as opposed to deep, non-REM sleep) increased the likelihood of waking up with vivid dream memories. Light sleep may serve as a bridge between unconscious dreaming and conscious awareness.
Age differences emerged as well. Younger participants were much better at recalling dreams than older adults, who more frequently reported "white dreams"—the sensation of having dreamt, but with no details remembered. Researchers believe this may be linked to age-related changes in memory function.
Perhaps most intriguingly, the study revealed that the time of year and exposure to sunlight could affect dream recall. Participants who took part in the experiment during spring were more likely to remember their dreams than those monitored in winter. The scientists attribute this to increased sunlight exposure, which regulates circadian rhythms, boosts mood, and supports healthy brain function—all factors that may enhance memory and dream recall.
Lead researcher Professor Giulio Bernardi summarized the findings by stating, "Our findings suggest that dream recall is not just a matter of chance but a reflection of how these elements interact." He emphasized that the study adds to growing evidence linking dream patterns to broader brain health. Previous research has even hinted that changes in dreaming could serve as early signs of conditions such as dementia or Parkinson’s disease.
For anyone eager to explore their dream world, the research offers practical advice: cultivate curiosity about dreams, engage in daydreaming, and maintain healthy sleep patterns. These simple steps could be effective ways to improve dream memory.
As the scientific and philosophical inquiries converge, one thing becomes clear: sleep and dreaming provide a unique window into the nature of consciousness itself. Each night, as we brush up against the boundary between being and nothingness, we rehearse the age-old question of what it means to be. And perhaps, by paying closer attention to our dreams—and the habits that shape them—we can come a little closer to understanding the mysteries of the mind.
