Individual Differences in Memory for Dreams: The Role of Cognitive Skills

Abstract

Ontogenetic findings have suggested a relationship between selected cognitive variables, especially Block Design ability, and REM dream-recall rates. This study investigated the extent to which such cognitive variables could account for individual differences in the REM recall of home-dream “nonreporters,” defined as self-described infrequent recallers who also recorded few dreams in a dream diary. Adult male nonreporters were assigned either to a high Block Design or low Block Design group ( n = 6 each). Other cognitive (e.g., memory and visuospatial) abilities were measured to determine relationships to REM recall rates and ratings of dream “salience.” On laboratory REM awakenings, subjects high on Block Design reported significantly more dreams than subjects who were low. However, within the latter group recall rates varied considerably (from 0% recall to 100% recall). This variability is accounted for in terms of an interaction of a dream-generation factor (salience) and a mnemonic factor (interference).