<p>When I'm trying to sleep but still awake, I sometimes get dream-like thoughts. I still twist and turn in bed, consciously moving (thus not sleeping) and hearing sounds in the room, but these thoughts are definitely dream-like in the sense that they're usually quite random.</p>

<p>Example: I'm walking in a park, talking to a someone about a specific subject, seeing flowers, trees, whatever.</p>

<p>At one point I realise this and consciously 'say' to myself: "if I want to, this entire train of thought is completely gone". Right after thinking this, the 'dream' is almost completely erased. I generally still do know the general subject (I'm in a park), but everything else is completely gone. I try and I try to remember the rest, but none if it comes back. I cannot even recall the fact that - in this example - I was talking to someone (let alone who) and what scenery I was surrounded with.</p>

<p>Is there any name for this mechanism? It always confuses me.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-21T15:03:09.213Z
Would you say you was "in between awake and asleep"?
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-21T15:10:31.317Z
Yeah, I think so.
Dreamer
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-22T16:51:24.753Z
See also: https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/7948/7001
Arnon Weinberg
<cognitive-psychology><memory><dreams>
I can sometimes 'erase' an active thought - how does that work?
Dreamer
# I can sometimes 'erase' an active thought - how does that work?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-21)

When I'm trying to sleep but still awake, I sometimes get dream-like thoughts. I still twist and turn in bed, consciously moving (thus not sleeping) and hearing sounds in the room, but these thoughts are definitely dream-like in the sense that they're usually quite random.

Example: I'm walking in a park, talking to a someone about a specific subject, seeing flowers, trees, whatever.

At one point I realise this and consciously 'say' to myself: "if I want to, this entire train of thought is completely gone". Right after thinking this, the 'dream' is almost completely erased. I generally still do know the general subject (I'm in a park), but everything else is completely gone. I try and I try to remember the rest, but none if it comes back. I cannot even recall the fact that - in this example - I was talking to someone (let alone who) and what scenery I was surrounded with.

Is there any name for this mechanism? It always confuses me.

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, memory, dreams

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Would you say you was "in between awake and asleep"?  
> **username_0**: Yeah, I think so.  
> **username_2**: See also: https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/7948/7001  

---

## 0 answers

