We are the Sensors of Consciousness! A Review and Analysis on How Awakenings During Sleep Influence Dream Recall.
Nature and science of sleep January 1, 2025 Benjamin Stucky 6 citations
A review of 69 awakening studies from 2000 to 2024 found that how people are awakened and their personal traits strongly affect whether they recall dreams or thoughts upon waking. Recall rates were lower when an alarm was used compared to calling a participant's name, and recall decreased over multiple study days. People awakened at home reported more experiences than those in a lab. Participant characteristics beyond age and sex, such as openness to experience, also influenced recall. These factors can alter study outcomes, including the identification of neural correlates of consciousness, so greater attention to awakening methods and participant traits is needed.