<p>Hue,</p>

<p>It sounds like you are interested in a field of research known as embodied cognitive science. It is a fascinating field that looks at how we use our bodies and environments in conjunction with or instead of our brains to complete some cognitive task.</p>

<p>I suggest you start by reading <a href="http://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/fulltext/S1364-6613(16)30098-5" rel="noreferrer">Risko &amp; Gilbert (2016)</a> for a recent review of a phenomenon known as "cognitive offloading" which I think will give you some interesting insights to some of the questions you posed. Evan Risko has done some interesting work on the effects of head tilts on cognition which I think you'll find interesting.  If you can't access the article due to the paywall, let me know, and I can send it to you.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I do not know any research on dreams and such.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-28T18:43:48.520Z
2016-12-28T18:43:48.520Z
cogsciguy
<p>I'm wondering if there are any studies on how (or if) the position of the head changes our thoughts or dreams. Mainly I mean when lying down, as I experienced it is hard to keep the thoughts that where there moments ago when I turn from one side to another in bed. I guess this can be explained by how the blood flows in our brains, that one side gets more blood than the other when lying on your side. But does that mean you could influence your dreams by your sleeping position? Would you react differently to outside influences depending on what your head position is? </p>

<p>I have to mention I have no knowledge at all in these kind of stuff and I'm just asking out of curiosity. Does anyone know about something like this? </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-05T03:01:23.533Z
Yes I have had this exact same experience. I also have synaesthesia and suspect the two might be related in some way. It is strange how vastly different the thoughts are tiggered only by the position of the head.
Gevillia
<cognitive-psychology>
Study about how position of head influences thoughts
Lehue
# Study about how position of head influences thoughts

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-12-28)

I'm wondering if there are any studies on how (or if) the position of the head changes our thoughts or dreams. Mainly I mean when lying down, as I experienced it is hard to keep the thoughts that where there moments ago when I turn from one side to another in bed. I guess this can be explained by how the blood flows in our brains, that one side gets more blood than the other when lying on your side. But does that mean you could influence your dreams by your sleeping position? Would you react differently to outside influences depending on what your head position is?

I have to mention I have no knowledge at all in these kind of stuff and I'm just asking out of curiosity. Does anyone know about something like this?

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Yes I have had this exact same experience. I also have synaesthesia and suspect the two might be related in some way. It is strange how vastly different the thoughts are tiggered only by the position of the head.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-12-28. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Hue,

It sounds like you are interested in a field of research known as embodied cognitive science. It is a fascinating field that looks at how we use our bodies and environments in conjunction with or instead of our brains to complete some cognitive task.

I suggest you start by reading [Risko & Gilbert (2016)](http://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/fulltext/S1364-6613(16)30098-5) for a recent review of a phenomenon known as "cognitive offloading" which I think will give you some interesting insights to some of the questions you posed. Evan Risko has done some interesting work on the effects of head tilts on cognition which I think you'll find interesting. If you can't access the article due to the paywall, let me know, and I can send it to you.

Unfortunately, I do not know any research on dreams and such.


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