What Dreams May Come

[nekosensei]

This poll was motivated by a post made by bkwrrm_tx. In high school and college, I read that scientists thought people only dreamed in black and white. A few weeks ago, I read an article in which that theory was being challenged. Studies were being done that suggested that people could dream in color. What's more, the article theorized that older people were more likely to dream in black in white while younger folks tended to dream in color. Why is this so? The authors suspected that our dreams were influenced by movies. When the older generation was growing up, movies were filmed in black and white whereas the younger generations watched movies in color.

I am almost certain that my dreams are in color. Not long ago, I remember having a dream in which a red object appeared. I think it was a garment. Maybe something I was knitting? At any rate, I remember that said object was red and I could see quite clearly that it was red.

[Poll #1341967]

Any thoughts?

Comments

[rm.livejournal.com]

We had a black and white TV in my house until I was 13 because my parents were afraid of the radiation from color TVs (I did not grow up in a rational environment). I dreamed about 80% in black and white or washed out tones as a child. Now it's only about 20% of the time.

[bibliofilen.livejournal.com]

I sometimes dream in shapes as well.

[misswitch.livejournal.com]

I used to have a recurring nightmare in which a character had glowing red eyes. I assure you, those eyes were definitely in color.

I picked both because when I think about it, I have a sense that I dream in B&W as well, but I can't site any examples.

Dreams

[blondibritecake.livejournal.com]

I have always found the topic of dreams to be fascinating. At a fairly young age I realized I have that somewhat unique ability known as "lucid dreaming," and I am frequently able to manipulate my dreams. Only once have I actually ADDED a character to a dream, and that wasn't on purpose.

My 7th grade science fair project was titled, "Can We Direct Our Dreams?" I went to
Rush's Sleep Lab and did some research as well as
discovered a man by the name of Stephen LaBerge (pretty sure that is the spelling) who started the
Dream Lucidity Institute. Neat.

I also have this odd knack for remembering multiple dreams from one night. My best is 9. But then there are some nights when I don't remember anything.

One of the last not-so-cool dreams that I recall was me. Dead. In amazing technicolor I saw myself laying in what appeared to be a peaceful state in a coffin at more-or-less my current age.
That was kind of creepy.

[happyfunpaul.livejournal.com]

I have had dreams in black & white, but for the most part I dream in color, so I chose that in the poll.

[hakeber.livejournal.com]

I, too, grew up mostly with a b&w tv in the house. And my dreams to this day are usually very washed out color. Closer to sepia, actually.