Thread: Dream recall is...

Interesting. I see what you mean.

Dream recall is the ability to recall dreams. Of course, one has to be able to identify a dream before they can recall it as such. In the case of recalling non-lucid dreams, the dream is identified by the experience of the contrast between the dream state and waking state.

I occasionally have dreams where I become lucid because I anticipate the dream to end but it doesn't. However, this is not a result of advanced dream recall. This is caused by increased self-awareness. Sometimes during a non-lucid dream, part of us knows we are dreaming, but we are not aware of this part of ourselves, so as a result we are not aware we are dreaming. To become aware of this part of ourselves requires self-awareness.

Awareness precedes recall. The dream is part of the self, so to be aware of the dream requires self-awareness. As a result, lucid dreams tend to be easier to recall than non-lucid dreams because there tends to be more self awareness during lucid dreams than non-lucid dreams. So, increased self-awareness precedes advanced dream recall rather than following it. Therefore, increased lucidity is correlated with advanced dream recall rather being than caused by it.

Yes Dolphin. I was not suggesting a direct cause effect relationship but a correlation. That said, i believe dream recall training increases self awareness inside the dream too, and it might be the active mediator between recall and lucidity

I think I see your point. By increasing lucidity, we're trying to be make what was previously unimportant to us important to us. By trying to recall more of our dreams, we are also trying to make what was previously unimportant to us important to us.

Dream recall is an exercise of episodic memory. Events that are recorded into episodic memory may trigger episodic learning, i.e. a change in behavior that occurs as a result of an event. This learning can result in increased self-awareness in the future.

I think some types of dream recall training might be more effective than others, though.

By increasing lucidity, we're trying to be make what was previously unimportant to us important to us. By trying to recall more of our dreams, we are also trying to make what was previously unimportant to us important to us.

Dream recall is an exercise of episodic memory. Events that are recorded into episodic memory may trigger episodic learning, i.e. a change in behavior that occurs as a result of an event. This learning can result in increased self-awareness in the future.

Very well said. I think we are returning again to the discussion on LD fundamentals, as Sageous likes to mention. May be we also have to find a role for waking life memory or recall in the "dream recall - lucidity relationship". But in a sense, self awareness and dream recall must also implicitly involve waking life memory, and vice versa, and it seems hard to separate one from the other, but i know someone could probably explain it better or have a different opinion.

I think some types of dream recall training might be more effective than others, though.

I think you are right here.It is challenging, but it would be interesting if you could elaborate it further.

Some dream features might be better to develop self awareness. I would say that paying attention to one´s emotions and actions in the dream would be more beneficial, but i am just guessing. It might be heavily dependent on the dreamer's dream.

And, although self awareness never hurts, maybe someone with persistent dream signs and recurrent dreams, can compensate for less self aware mind with a more externally oriented awareness ? And therefore better suited to pay attention to elements other than related to the self.

Becoming lucid is a matter about learning we are dreaming. In the same way, self-awareness is a form of conscious knowledge. Increasing knowledge involves learning.

Some types of dream recall training place more emphasis on this learning about our dreams/selves than others. For example, in its most basic form, dream recall training involves simply recording dreams with no additional analysis. It leaves any learning to the discretion of the dreamer. For somebody who is not naturally curious, they might need more guidance and motivation to learn about what their dreams are like in order to possibly increase self awareness in them in the future.

Other forms of dream recall training go beyond simply recalling dreams. Like you say, for example, in addition to recording dreams, they can involve looking for patterns, thinking about what could have been done differently during the dream, and other forms of analysis that results in learning something about our dreams/selves.

I agree that the best dream features to pay attention to might be highly dependent on the dreamers dream.