Can you train yourself to control dreams? Neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar shares 10 fascinating facts about dreaming
Unlocking the Secrets of Sleep: Can We Master Our Dreams?
Bharatmorningnews.com – Dreaming stands as one of the most enigmatic aspects of human rest. We often wonder why certain nights deliver soothing narratives while others plunge us into terrifying scenarios. Some visions feel intensely authentic, embedding themselves in our minds long after sunrise, and occasionally appearing to foreshadow real-life occurrences. Yet the question persists: is it possible to steer our dream content or develop awareness within them?
Why We Forget Most of Our Dreams
Individuals who claim they seldom dream typically mean they rarely recall them, since every person experiences dreams. Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a distinguished neurologist and department head at Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad, recently outlined ten compelling insights about this phenomenon. Sharing his expertise on X (previously known as Twitter) on August 14, he posed several questions: “Ever wondered why you remember some dreams but forget most of them? Why are some beautiful, while others are terrifying? And can you actually control your dreams?”
The science reveals that dream recall depends heavily on how the brain processes and stores these experiences. Dr. Kumar notes: “Dream memory is fragile. You need to dream, encode the experience into memory and retrieve it after waking. If you wake up abruptly, move on quickly, or don’t pay attention to the dream, much of it disappears within minutes. People also differ naturally in dream recall.”
Dreaming Beyond REM Sleep
A common misconception suggests dreaming happens exclusively during rapid eye movement phases. Dr. Kumar clarifies this notion: “Dreaming is not restricted to REM sleep. Dreams can occur during both REM and non-REM sleep. So if you say, ‘I never dream’, you probably mean ‘I rarely remember my dreams’.”
While REM-phase dreams typically showcase greater vividness, visual richness, and emotional intensity, research confirms that individuals can indeed report dreams emerging from non-REM stages, including deep sleep cycles. The traditional belief that dreaming occurs solely in REM sleep proves overly simplified.
What Shapes Our Dream World
Our nightly visions draw heavily from personal history, emotional states, and daily encounters. This connection explains why dreams can simultaneously comfort and unsettle us. Dr. Kumar elaborates: “Dreams often incorporate our memories, emotions, worries and experiences. One influential theory is that dreaming helps the brain process emotional experiences and possibly simulate threatening situations in a safe environment. But this is still a theory, not a settled explanation.”
During these nocturnal journeys, the brain crafts an internal simulation so convincing that dreamers can see, hear, move, experience fear, fall in love, encounter deceased loved ones, and accept all of it as reality. Dreams that resonate emotionally tend to stick in our memory longer than mundane ones.
Can We Train Ourselves to Control Dreams?
Pre-sleep thoughts and emotions certainly influence dream material, yet conscious control remains limited. Dr. Kumar explains: “Thinking about a person, problem or topic before sleep can influence dream content. Experimental studies using targeted dream incubation have even demonstrated that cues presented around sleep onset can influence subsequent dream themes. But this is not the same as being able to order your brain: ‘Tonight I will dream exactly what I want’.”
Through dedicated practice and specialized methods, lucid dreaming becomes achievable. Dr. Kumar states: “Can you train yourself to control dreams? Sometimes. This is called lucid dreaming, realising that you are dreaming while the dream is still happening. Some cognitive training techniques can increase the likelihood of lucid dreams, although it doesn’t work reliably for everyone.”
Managing Nightmares and Improving Dream Quality
Though active dream control eludes most people, recurring nightmares can diminish through improved sleep and lifestyle practices. Dr. Kumar advises: “You may be able to influence dream content, but there is no guaranteed ‘pleasant dream button’. Reducing stress, addressing anxiety and nightmares, maintaining good sleep habits and using techniques such as imagery rehearsal can help some people with recurrent nightmares.”
While the ultimate purpose of dreaming continues to puzzle scientists, understanding these mechanisms brings us closer to mastering our nocturnal experiences. Through patience and practice, many discover they can navigate their dream world with growing awareness.
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