Dreams can occur at any time during the sleep cycle, but they are most vivid and memorable during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep. The sleep cycle typically consists of several stages, including non-REM (NREM) and REM sleep.
A full sleep cycle takes about 90 to 110 minutes to complete, and during REM sleep, brain activity increases, resembling the waking state. It is during REM sleep that most dreaming occurs. The first REM period of the night is relatively short, but as the night progresses, REM stages become longer, and dreams can become more intricate.
It’s important to note that people experience multiple sleep cycles during a night of sleep, and each cycle includes both REM and NREM stages. Dreams can occur in any stage of sleep, but they tend to be more vivid and memorable during REM sleep.
If you wake up directly from a dream during the night, it’s more likely that you were in REM sleep at that time. However, not everyone remembers their dreams, and factors such as individual sleep patterns, stress, and lifestyle can influence dream recall.
