Latest news with #DreamCensus
Scotsman
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
AI Reveals the UK's Dreams: New ‘Sleep Census' Visualises National Nightmares and Fantasies
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now For the first time, Britain's sleeping subconscious has been uncovered. Over the course of one week, Simba, the sleep tech brand, conducted the first-ever Dream Census, capturing and analysing the dreams of 2,000 UK adults to uncover the stories playing out behind closed eyes. The research reveals a nation caught between anxiety and escapism, with stress-fuelled nightmares gripping some sleepers, while others dreamt of soaring into adventure. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The findings, conducted in partnership with Simba's charity partner, The Sleep Charity, paint a compelling portrait of the UK's collective subconscious. At the heart of the research is a question: Are we running towards something, or away from it? The findings underscore a striking contrast between stress and escapism in Britain's subconscious. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A quarter (25%) of UK adults found themselves trapped in anxiety-driven dreams, whether being chased, lost, or running late, while over a fifth (23%) of those surveyed escaped into more uplifting dreamscapes, filled with romance, adventure, and the sensations of success. Britain's Week of Nightmares Women were notably more likely to experience stress-heavy dreams (30% vs. 20% of men), while men were more prone to surreal or fantastical dream worlds (19% vs. 12% of women). Nostalgia remained a dominant theme, with reuniting with someone from the past emerging as the nation's most common dream (13%). Some of us dreamt of soaring weightless above the clouds, whilst over a quarter [26%] of people recalled finding themselves in new romantic encounters or reliving cherished memories from the past. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To bring these dreams (and fears) to life, Simba has leveraged advanced generative AI, marking a world first in sleep research. By analysing the descriptions of thousands of real dreams, AI-generated imagery visually reconstructs the science of the subconscious, offering a never-before-seen glimpse into the nation's sleeping mind. Britain's Week of Dreaming Lisa Artis, Deputy CEO of Simba's charity partner The Sleep Charity, explains: "Dreams are the brain's way of processing emotions, memories, and stress. The fact that so many people are dreaming about being late, being chased, or feeling trapped suggests that high levels of daily anxiety and stress are carrying over into sleep." The UK's most common nightmares reflect deep-seated anxieties and primal fears, with over 1 in 10 [11%] of Brits experiencing nightmares about being chased, lost, or trapped, followed by a further 16% of adults experiencing fears of falling, being unable to move or even the classic horror of teeth falling out. The external world also plays a role in shaping our dreamscapes. Personal relationships proved to be the strongest influence, with over a third [34%] of people finding their dreams rooted in real-world connections. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Financial stress was another major factor, affecting nearly 1 in 4 [23%] of sleepers, while work pressures weighed heavily on the subconscious of a further 22% of those surveyed. Rendering the Dreamscape Meanwhile, TV, films, and books before bed influenced 19% of dreams, with news and politics shaping the thoughts of 18%, showing how daily experiences and global events infiltrate even our most intimate dream states. The study also uncovered a phenomenon Simba has termed 'Dream Surge.' Saturday night saw the highest volume of recalled dreams, with more people remembering their dreams on Sunday morning than on any other day of the week. Experts suggest this could be due to longer weekend lie-ins, which allow for deeper, extended sleep cycles, increasing dream intensity and recall. Additionally, the well-documented 'Sunday Scaries' - anxiety about the week ahead - may contribute to a rise in emotionally charged dreams. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Steve Reid, CEO of Simba, comments: "Dreams are a reflection of our deepest subconscious. Now, by bringing this research to life with cutting-edge AI, we can start to make connections to our lives out of bed. Ultimately, being more aware about what fuels our dreams helps us understand ourselves and how we can better protect our sleep quality." Reid continues: "Restorative sleep starts with the right conditions, and that includes high-quality essentials like mattresses, toppers, pillows and duvets. At Simba, we use innovative design and materials across our range to support deeper, more consistent sleep, helping people rest better, recover overnight, and wake feeling more refreshed. This includes our patented titanium alloy Aerocoil® springs, 'cool-touch' Stratos® technology, and other features developed to actively enhance sleep quality." Despite these vivid dreamscapes, not everyone remembers what happens in their sleep. While 13% of Brits recall a dream almost every night, a third rarely remember them at all, suggesting that for many, the subconscious remains just out of reach.
Scottish Sun
26-04-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Dreams of Brits recreated with AI after ‘sleep census' reveals most common nightmares – with a big difference for women
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE secret dreams of Brits have been revealed in a bizarre 'sleep census' – and then recreated with AI. It reveals common themes that keep popping up, including in the 'primal fears' in our nightmares. 8 The 'Sleep Census' revealed how Brits share common dream locations Credit: Simba / The Sleep Charity 8 Common dream themes included reuniting with people from the past, intimacy, or flying Credit: Simba / The Sleep Charity 8 Flying was a common theme among British dreamers Credit: Simba / The Sleep Charity Thousands of Brits had their dreams tracked and logged over the course of a week. And a quarter of the participants found themselves 'trapped in anxiety-driven dreams'. That included being chased, finding themselves lost, or running late for something important. 'Dreams are the brain's way of processing emotions, memories, and stress,' said Lisa Artis, deputy chief at The Sleep Charity, which helped organise the probe into Britain's dreams. 'The fact that so many people are dreaming about being late, being chased, or feeling trapped suggests that high levels of daily anxiety and stress are carrying over into sleep.' SLEEP SPLIT The investigation also found that women appeared to be more likely to experience high-stress dreams – at 30% to men's 20%. But men were 'more prone to surreal or fantastical dream worlds' at 19% versus 12% of women. It also showed that the most common UK nightmares 'reflect deep-seated anxieties and primal fears'. As well as being chased, lost, or trapped, a further 16% of British adults experienced nightmares about falling or their teeth falling out. Financial stress was listed as affecting a nearly a quarter of Brits in their dreams. Mobile phone users never have to make calls AGAIN as Google launches bizarre new tool for appointments and more And 19% had their dreams influenced by TV, films, and books viewed before bed. There was also a phenomenon dubbed a 'Dream Surge', where Saturday had the highest volume of recalled dreams. That meant more people remembered their dreams on Sunday morning compared to any other day in the week. 'Dreams are a reflection of our deepest subconscious,' said Steve Reid, chief of sleep-tech firm Simba. 8 Being lost, chased, or trapped was one of the most common nightmare types for Brits Credit: Simba / The Sleep Charity 8 Brits also shared common nightmares including being chased, falling, or being unable to move Credit: Simba / The Sleep Charity 'Now, by bringing this research to life with cutting-edge AI, we can start to make connections to our lives out of bed. 'Ultimately, being more aware about what fuels our dreams helps us understand ourselves and how we can better protect our sleep quality.' Around 2,000 UK adults took part in the Dream Census, which also reported that 13% of Brits recall a dream almost every night – though a third 'rarely remember them at all'. NIGHT FRIGHTS According to the NHS, night terrors and nightmares can be caused by a whole host of things. SLEEP TECH TRICKS REVEALED Here are some smartphone tricks to help with sleep... Background Sounds This little-known iPhone feature plays soothing noises in the background – handy if you struggle to sleep in total silence. Just go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Background Sounds. "These sounds can minimise distractions and help you to focus, calm, or rest," Apple explained. You can choose sounds like Rain, Ocean, Stream, Fire, or Dark Noise. It can play in the background of other media (like a podcast), and you can add it to your Control Centre for quick activation by swiping down from the top-right and adding the icon. You can also go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut > Background Sounds, which lets you turn it on or off just by triple-clicking your iPhone's Side Button. Sleep Focus Another great trick for bedtime is Sleep Focus. It limits the amount of distractions you get at night – including from annoying notifications. This will filter out texts and calls in the night, for instance. But you can set it so that certain apps or contacts can break through – like a partner, parent, or child. If someone tries to text you over iMessage while you've got Sleep Focus on, they'll be warned that you're in the land of nod and might not see the text right away. You can set Sleep Focus to a schedule (with different times for weekdays and weekends), or manually turn it on or off. You can find it in Settings > Focus > Sleep Focus, or you can quickly switch it on from the Control Centre. Picture Credit: Apple / The Sun 8 Nightmares can interrupt a good night's sleep Credit: Getty 8 Visiting fantasy worlds was very common, especially for men Credit: Simba / The Sleep Charity That includes: Being tired or unwell Sudden noises at night Needing to pee during the night Something that's frightened you (like a scary film) Something that's made you stressed, anxious, or worried But the NHS also noted that nightmares can be caused by certain medicines (like anti-depressants), conditions that affect sleep like restless legs syndrome or sleep apnea, mental health conditions, and conditions that affect the brain like dementia. "Night terrors are more common in people with family members who have had night terrors or who sleepwalk," the NHS added. 8 Try turning on Sleep focus on your iPhone to reduce distractions during the night Credit: Apple / The Sun The Sun recently revealed some clever iPhone sleep tricks worth trying if you're struggling to nod off. And last year, we tested an AI smart bed that tracks your sleep.
The Sun
26-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
Dreams of Brits recreated with AI after ‘sleep census' reveals most common nightmares – with a big difference for women
Sean Keach, Head of Technology and Science Published: Invalid Date, THE secret dreams of Brits have been revealed in a bizarre 'sleep census' – and then recreated with AI. It reveals common themes that keep popping up, including in the 'primal fears' in our nightmares. 8 8 8 Thousands of Brits had their dreams tracked and logged over the course of a week. And a quarter of the participants found themselves 'trapped in anxiety-driven dreams'. That included being chased, finding themselves lost, or running late for something important. 'Dreams are the brain's way of processing emotions, memories, and stress,' said Lisa Artis, deputy chief at The Sleep Charity, which helped organise the probe into Britain's dreams. 'The fact that so many people are dreaming about being late, being chased, or feeling trapped suggests that high levels of daily anxiety and stress are carrying over into sleep.' SLEEP SPLIT The investigation also found that women appeared to be more likely to experience high-stress dreams – at 30% to men's 20%. But men were 'more prone to surreal or fantastical dream worlds' at 19% versus 12% of women. It also showed that the most common UK nightmares 'reflect deep-seated anxieties and primal fears'. As well as being chased, lost, or trapped, a further 16% of British adults experienced nightmares about falling or their teeth falling out. Financial stress was listed as affecting a nearly a quarter of Brits in their dreams. Mobile phone users never have to make calls AGAIN as Google launches bizarre new tool for appointments and more And 19% had their dreams influenced by TV, films, and books viewed before bed. There was also a phenomenon dubbed a 'Dream Surge', where Saturday had the highest volume of recalled dreams. That meant more people remembered their dreams on Sunday morning compared to any other day in the week. 'Dreams are a reflection of our deepest subconscious,' said Steve Reid, chief of sleep-tech firm Simba. 8 8 'Now, by bringing this research to life with cutting-edge AI, we can start to make connections to our lives out of bed. 'Ultimately, being more aware about what fuels our dreams helps us understand ourselves and how we can better protect our sleep quality.' Around 2,000 UK adults took part in the Dream Census, which also reported that 13% of Brits recall a dream almost every night – though a third 'rarely remember them at all'. NIGHT FRIGHTS According to the NHS, night terrors and nightmares can be caused by a whole host of things. SLEEP TECH TRICKS REVEALED Here are some smartphone tricks to help with sleep... Background Sounds This little-known iPhone feature plays soothing noises in the background – handy if you struggle to sleep in total silence. Just go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Background Sounds. "These sounds can minimise distractions and help you to focus, calm, or rest," Apple explained. You can choose sounds like Rain, Ocean, Stream, Fire, or Dark Noise. It can play in the background of other media (like a podcast), and you can add it to your Control Centre for quick activation by swiping down from the top-right and adding the icon. You can also go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut > Background Sounds, which lets you turn it on or off just by triple-clicking your iPhone's Side Button. Sleep Focus Another great trick for bedtime is Sleep Focus. It limits the amount of distractions you get at night – including from annoying notifications. This will filter out texts and calls in the night, for instance. But you can set it so that certain apps or contacts can break through – like a partner, parent, or child. If someone tries to text you over iMessage while you've got Sleep Focus on, they'll be warned that you're in the land of nod and might not see the text right away. You can set Sleep Focus to a schedule (with different times for weekdays and weekends), or manually turn it on or off. You can find it in Settings > Focus > Sleep Focus, or you can quickly switch it on from the Control Centre. Picture Credit: Apple / The Sun 8 That includes: Being tired or unwell Sudden noises at night Needing to pee during the night Something that's frightened you (like a scary film) Something that's made you stressed, anxious, or worried But the NHS also noted that nightmares can be caused by certain medicines (like anti-depressants), conditions that affect sleep like restless legs syndrome or sleep apnea, mental health conditions, and conditions that affect the brain like dementia. "Night terrors are more common in people with family members who have had night terrors or who sleepwalk," the NHS added. 8 The Sun recently revealed some clever iPhone sleep tricks worth trying if you're struggling to nod off. And last year, we tested an AI smart bed that tracks your sleep.
The Irish Sun
26-04-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Dreams of Brits recreated with AI after ‘sleep census' reveals most common nightmares – with a big difference for women
THE secret dreams of Brits have been revealed in a bizarre 'sleep census' – and then recreated with AI. It reveals common themes that keep popping up, including in the 'primal fears' in our nightmares. 8 The 'Sleep Census' revealed how Brits share common dream locations Credit: Simba / The Sleep Charity 8 Common dream themes included reuniting with people from the past, intimacy, or flying Credit: Simba / The Sleep Charity 8 Flying was a common theme among British dreamers Credit: Simba / The Sleep Charity Thousands of Brits had their And a quarter of the participants found themselves 'trapped in anxiety-driven dreams'. That included being chased, finding themselves lost, or running late for something important. 'Dreams are the brain's way of processing emotions, memories, and stress,' said Lisa Artis, deputy chief at The Sleep Charity , which helped organise the probe into Britain's dreams. Read more on AI 'The fact that so many people are dreaming about being late, being chased, or feeling trapped suggests that high levels of daily anxiety and stress are carrying over into SLEEP SPLIT The investigation also found that women appeared to be more likely to experience high-stress dreams – at 30% to men's 20%. But men were 'more prone to surreal or fantastical dream worlds' at 19% versus 12% of women. It also showed that the most common UK nightmares 'reflect deep-seated anxieties and primal fears'. Most read in Tech As well as being chased, lost, or trapped, a further 16% of British adults experienced nightmares about falling or their teeth falling out. Financial stress was listed as affecting a nearly a quarter of Brits in their dreams. Mobile phone users never have to make calls AGAIN as Google launches bizarre new tool for appointments and more And 19% had their dreams influenced by TV, films, and books viewed before bed. There was also a phenomenon dubbed a 'Dream Surge', where Saturday had the highest volume of recalled dreams. That meant more people remembered their dreams on Sunday morning compared to any other day in the week. 'Dreams are a reflection of our deepest subconscious,' said Steve Reid, chief of sleep-tech firm 8 Being lost, chased, or trapped was one of the most common nightmare types for Brits Credit: Simba / The Sleep Charity 8 Brits also shared common nightmares including being chased, falling, or being unable to move Credit: Simba / The Sleep Charity 'Now, by bringing this research to life with cutting-edge AI, we can start to make connections to our lives out of bed. 'Ultimately, being more aware about what fuels our dreams helps us understand ourselves and how we can better Around 2,000 UK adults took part in the Dream Census, which also reported that 13% of Brits recall a dream almost every night – though a third 'rarely remember them at all'. NIGHT FRIGHTS According to the NHS, night terrors and nightmares can be caused by a whole host of things. SLEEP TECH TRICKS REVEALED Here are some smartphone tricks to help with sleep... Background Sounds This little-known iPhone feature plays soothing noises in the background – handy if you struggle to sleep in total silence. Just go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Background Sounds. "These sounds can minimise distractions and help you to focus, calm, or rest," Apple explained. You can choose sounds like Rain, Ocean, Stream, Fire, or Dark Noise. It can play in the background of other media (like a podcast), and you can add it to your Control Centre for quick activation by swiping down from the top-right and adding the icon. You can also go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut > Background Sounds, which lets you turn it on or off just by triple-clicking your iPhone's Side Button. Sleep Focus Another great trick for bedtime is Sleep Focus. It limits the amount of distractions you get at night – including from annoying notifications. This will filter out texts and calls in the night, for instance. But you can set it so that certain apps or contacts can break through – like a partner, parent, or child. If someone tries to text you over iMessage while you've got Sleep Focus on, they'll be warned that you're in the land of nod and might not see the text right away. You can set Sleep Focus to a schedule (with different times for weekdays and weekends), or manually turn it on or off. You can find it in Settings > Focus > Sleep Focus, or you can quickly switch it on from the Control Centre. Picture Credit: Apple / The Sun 8 Nightmares can interrupt a good night's sleep Credit: Getty 8 Visiting fantasy worlds was very common, especially for men Credit: Simba / The Sleep Charity That includes: Being tired or unwell Sudden noises at night Needing to pee during the night Something that's frightened you (like a scary film) Something that's made you stressed, anxious, or worried But the NHS also noted that nightmares can be caused by certain medicines (like anti-depressants), conditions that affect sleep like restless legs syndrome or "Night terrors are more common in people with family members who have had night terrors or who sleepwalk," the NHS added. 8 Try turning on Sleep focus on your iPhone to reduce distractions during the night Credit: Apple / The Sun The Sun recently revealed some clever And last year, we tested an
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The 6 most common dreams - and what they REALLY mean
There's nothing quite like getting into bed and drifting off to sleep. But while some people sink into a dreamless slumber, others experience vivid, realistic visions during the night. Whether its soaring through the sky or something scarier like being chased, there are a multitude of scenarios we experience while snoozing. But are some dreams more common than others? Sleep tech brand Simba has conducted the first-ever Dream Census, capturing and analysing the dreams of 2,000 adults in the UK over the course of one week. Their research reveals a nation caught between anxiety and escapism, with stress-fuelled nightmares gripping some sleepers while others dream of soaring into adventure. Here, they reveal the nation's most frequent nighttime visions. And it shows that our daily emotions are spilling over into our sleeping subconscious. Analysis revealed a quarter of adults found themselves trapped in anxiety-driven dreams, whether being chased, lost or running late. Meanwhile 23 per cent of those surveyed escaped into more uplifting dreamscapes filled with romance, adventure and the sensation of success. Women were notably more likely to experience stress-heavy dreams while men were more prone to surreal or fantastical dream worlds. The two most common dreams were those involving reuniting with someone from the past, or those involving intimacy or romance. Both were experienced by 13 per cent of people surveyed. The third most common dream – or, rather, nightmare – involved being chased, lost or trapped, reported by 11 per cent of people. A further 6 per cent of people said they dreamed about falling or being unable to move – while the same percentage said they dreamed about flying or floating. Lisa Artis, Deputy CEO of Simba's charity partner The Sleep Charity, said: 'Dreams are the brain's way of processing emotions, memories, and stress. 'The fact that so many people are dreaming about being late, being chased, or feeling trapped suggests that high levels of daily anxiety and stress are carrying over into sleep.' The team found the external world plays a role in shaping our dreamscapes – with nearly half dreaming of a familiar place such as home or school, 18 per cent dreaming of a public space like an airport and 11 per cent dreaming of a natural setting such as a forest. Meanwhile 7 per cent dreamed of a surreal or fantasy world, for example a floating island or space station. Personal relationships proved to be the strongest influence on dreams, with more than a third finding their visions rooted in real-world connections. The study also uncovered a phenomenon dubbed 'Dream Surge' – with Saturday night seeing the highest volume of recalled dreams. More people remembered their dreams on Sunday morning than on any other day of the week. Experts suggest this could be due to longer weekend lie-ins which allow for deeper, extended sleep cycles which increase dream intensity and recall. The well-documented 'Sunday scaries' – anxiety about the week ahead – may also contribute to a rise in emotionally-charged dreams. Steve Reid, CEO of Simba, said: 'Dreams are a reflection of our deepest subconscious. 'Ultimately, being more aware about what fuels our dreams helps us understand ourselves and how we can better protect our sleep quality.' Finally, the study revealed that not everyone remembers what happens in their sleep. While 13 per cent of Brits recall a dream almost every night, a third rarely remembered them at all. CAN YOU LEARN WHILE YOU NAP? It is the perfect learning shortcut, to play a language tape or revision recording at night while you are asleep. But those desperately hoping the information will go in as they snooze may be disappointed. Scientists have previously found that the brain does take in what it hears during REM sleep – the time spent mostly dreaming, usually in the morning before we wake up. Leaving a tape running overnight is probably counter-productive as information gained in deep sleep can be completely lost. French researchers found that sound played during certain parts of deep sleep may make information harder to learn when you wake up than if you had never heard it before. That is thought to be because the brain is busy erasing memories at this time, and the new knowledge is dumped along with them. In a study published by experts from PSL Research University in Paris in August 2017, researchers tested sleep learning by playing 20 participants white noise, which contained patterns of sound. The sounds heard during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep were remembered by these people when they woke up. They found it easier to identify the white noise which had repeated sounds in it because they had heard it while asleep. But the noise played while people were in deep sleep, which makes up almost a third of our slumbers, was forgotten.
