Dreams are not random, but rather shaped by a combination of personality and lived experience, according to a new study. Researchers at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca in Italy analyzed over 3,700 dream and waking experience reports from 287 participants.
Using advanced natural language processing (NLP), a type of artificial intelligence, the study found clear patterns in dreams. Individuals prone to scattered thoughts during the day often reported fragmented dreams. Those who viewed dreams as meaningful experienced more immersive narratives.
External events also significantly influence dream content. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, dreams became more intense and often centered on themes of restriction. These patterns shifted as daily life normalized, indicating dreams adapt to our psychological state.
Rather than direct replays of daily life, dreams appear to transform routine elements. Settings like workplaces or schools are reorganized into unfamiliar, often surreal scenarios. "Our findings show that dreams are not just a reflection of past experiences, but a dynamic process shaped by who we are and what we live through," stated lead author Valentina Elce.
The study also highlights the role of AI in dream research, with NLP models accurately analyzing dream reports, opening new avenues for studying consciousness, memory, and mental health at scale.