Do you like to dream?
Most people dream, not everyone remembers their dreams. Memory consolidation is the process of converting short term memory to long term memory. Memory feels intangible and fleeting. Trying to recall fine details is not an easy task if we don’t make a point to remember what we are seeing or doing. While we sleep these memories get further stabilized. It is theorized that dreaming helps us with this process. Replaying daily events in order to keep them properly tucked away and secure in the recesses of our minds, like Hangar 51 in Indiana Jones.
Sleep spindles: an indicator of ability to recall dreams
The quantity of sleep spindles is associated with dream recall. A sleep spindle occurs when we sleep and can be identified in recorded brain waves, it is defined as a fast oscillating section of the brain wave. The amount of sleep spindles are an indication of the ability to recall of dreams and intelligence.
Intelligence, sleep spindles and dreams
What exactly connects these aspects is not exactly known. Measuring the amount of sleep spindles, the ability to recall dreams, and consolidate memory, can give us indications of an individuals intelligence. Does ensuring that a person enters into certain stages of sleep promote intelligence? Do more intelligent people just dream more? These questions have no satisfying answers.
Not dreaming due to sleep apnea
People who suffer from sleep apnea often report not dreaming. Once they start treatment they often will remark that they actually remembered their dream for the first time in a long time. It’s nice to see how happy some people are just to dream again, or actually remember dreaming.
We tend to overlook our sleep. The great joke of those who work in sleep is that we monitor your sleep at the expense of our own. Why is sleep important? We feel better when we have a restful and restorative sleep. Disturbed sleep due to sleep apnea affects a person’s health, with higher chances developing high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Getting a restful sleep also means that we are better able to dream and fortify our memories.
Nielsen et al., "NREM sleep spindles are associated with dream recall," Sleep Spindles & Cortical Up States DOI: 10.1556/2053.1.2016.003
If you think you may have a sleep disorder, or are experiencing any difficulty with getting to sleep, staying asleep, staying awake during the day, or have any other sleep related questions, feel free to contact Clinique Somnomed by clicking the link below. 
We provide quick and convenient sleep testing in your home, in and around the greater Montreal area. We test patients every year for sleep disorders both common and rare.
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