On average, most people dream for around two hours per night. Dreaming can happen during any stage of sleep , but dreams are the most prolific and intense during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage. During the REM sleep stage, brain activity ramps up considerably compared to the non-REM stages, which helps explain the distinct types of dreaming during these stages.

Dreaming happens throughout the night, but our most vivid and often remembered dreams happen during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. A dream can be influenced by what we’re thinking about before we go to sleep, or what we’ve experienced in our waking day. Dreams can also bring to light what we’re avoiding thinking about or our anxieties.