Side sleeping can be on the left or right side, and the direction of side sleeping affects dreams. In a study titled "Sleep Positions, Dreams, and Sleep Quality" published in a magazine, researchers monitored sleep quality and dream frequency in sixty-three

Sleeping positions vary from person to person, including side sleeping, stomach sleeping, and lying flat. Some sleeping positions can be unexpectedly unusual. So, what's your sleeping position? Do you have good sleep quality? Do you dream frequently? Recent sleep studies suggest that sleeping positions may impact the quality and content of dreams.

If you've ever dozed off at a desk and been awakened by strange dreams, it could be directly related to your sleeping position. Additionally, research by scholars from the University of Hong Kong indicates that dream content depends on the sleeping position. For example, individuals who prefer sleeping on their stomachs tend to have more nightmares. Therefore, your sleeping position could be a factor in determining the nature of your dreams. But don't worry, let's explain how.

Sleeping Positions and Dreams

There are several known sleeping positions, such as side sleeping, lying flat, and sleeping on the stomach. Let's analyze them based on the positions people fall asleep in.

Lying flat: Many people choose this sleeping position, and research suggests that those who sleep lying flat tend to have a vulnerable or exposed feeling in their dreams. However, they often have difficulty remembering their dreams upon waking up, which is not necessarily a bad thing. People who sleep lying flat often dream about being late for important events or suddenly being naked in public.

Inclined sleeping: Inclined sleeping often occurs when traveling in a vehicle. People who sleep in an inclined position tend to have more vivid dreams, and the greater the angle of inclination, the more awake they feel. Realistic dreams can be so convincing that they create a strong sense of reality. Even after waking up, it may take a moment to distinguish between dreams and reality, remaining immersed in the dream.

Sleeping on the stomach: In a study conducted by a doctor at Hong Shuren University, it was concluded that people who sleep facing down on their stomachs are more likely to have dreams related to love. In another study that examined over six hundred and seventy acknowledged sleeping positions and their connection to dreams, it was found that those who sleep on their stomachs have the most profound and interesting dreams, often involving love, extraterrestrials, or experiences of breathlessness.

Individual personality does not significantly impact dreams; the main factor is the sleeping position. Interestingly, many lucid dreamers claim that they are more prone to experiencing sleep paralysis when sleeping on their sides. During sleep paralysis, they are easily awakened, their thinking is clear, but their bodies are unresponsive, caught in a state between dreaming and wakefulness. For example, they may be aware of running in a dream but unable to move their legs. This type of dream occurs because the motor control system, which is the cerebellum, is blocked by the brainstem when you are asleep. The cerebellum sends signals to move your legs, but since you are sleeping, the brainstem prevents the commands from entering the spinal cord. As a result, the leg muscles and sensory system do not receive instructions, causing the phenomenon of being unable to run in the dream.

In addition to sleeping positions, many other factors can influence dreams, and the saying "as you think during the day, so you dream at night" is not entirely unfounded. Furthermore, many of our dreams are slow-motion dreams, which have been confirmed in various experiments.