Dream Memory Censors?

[cybereality]

I had this wierd experience the other night and I believe I encountered a "dream memory censor." We all know that it is difficult to remember dreams. Unless you keep a dream journal and actively write in it, its likely you'll forget. Many regular people dont even remember their dreams. I am usually very good at remembering my dreams and will have at least a few pages to write when I wake up. So there is obviously some device which destroys, censors or blocks those memories. I believe I had an encounter with one of these dream-censors. I prepared to dream with the intent of learning more about myself. I asked my subconscious to show me the answers I was looking for. I went to sleep with this on my mind. During the lucid dream I remember having a eurika moment where I gained some fundemental knowledge I had sought out. In the dream I took out my dream journal. This is something I picked up some time ago where I will start writing down notes in my dream as a mnemonic device. Seems weird, but I guess its just out of habit. So anyway, I was writing down what I thought was a major revelation. I wrote it in BIG BLOCK LETTERS like that and I believe I had a name of someone or some place. At that moment the dream froze. Everything went dark. I was desperately trying to hold the thought and not forget. I could see sparkly stars everywhere (going off and on like flyflies) which where red, white and blue. I opened my eyes and I was in my bed. I was paralyzed. I could feel the electricity in my mind. Somehow I could feel it eating away at my short-term memory. After I totally lost the thought, I was now awake. I was very frightened and had to turn the lights on. I cannot remember anything about the dream or what it was I was trying to remember. This was somewhat of a disturbing experience for me. Whatever it was that happened, I am convinced it was actively erasing my memory. Has anyone else had something like this happen, or maybe offer some insight. Thanks.

[casemarten]

hey- sorry it took me so long to get back to you. (you mosted on my intro that you have "of the future" dreams like mine). this censor you speak of, i definately believe in it, but i've never encountered it. ive actively sought it out before while LDing, but i've never discovered it or felt it take place like that. i can imagine this was definately a disturbing experience for you, but i suppose you should look at it as positively as possible - you did in fact experience it. there is always the possibility that it happened because you believe that such a dream censor exists, and somehow it was created in your dreams from your own mind, but i doubt that. i can't offer any explanations for what you experienced, but i'm excited to hear you've experienced this. it could be a real insight into dreaming. ps. PM me and we'll talk about the dreams, ive never found anyone else who felt the same about them

[Asclepius]

I have had lucid dreams that have gone black. And in some cases I went into sleep paralysis. But I have no experience of dream censor. Some dreams I had I thought had great insights or great jokes, I write them down upon awakening, but in the morning the greatness is missing. I believe parts of our mind are shutdown when we sleep and dream. This is why in many dreams we ignore the bizarre. Functionally this is probably part of resting. Part of memory is state specific. We are in a different state when dreaming, and it can be hard to carry information between the states.