It is possible to program the content of your dreams to some extent. The low-tech approach simply involves a conscious reminder, issued immediately prior to sleeping, in which you concentrate upon the desired subject. Simple, but surprisingly effective. The high-tech approach to interactive dreaming requires a machine that detects REM sleep, then plays one or more programmed sounds (e.g., a whistle of a train, the crowing of a rooster, the cheering of a stadium crowd, or the theme song to Gilligan’s Island—whatever floats your boat). Researchers have found that the brain often accepts the “suggestions” that are implied by these sounds, with the result that these sounds and their accompanying themes are often incorporated into the ongoing dreams.
The next topic about dreams in the “fun facts to know and tell” series is that the content and outcome of one dream usually affects the subject of subsequent dreams. However, your brain—acting in the manner of a hard-nosed television executive—will often decide to “cancel” a series for unfathomable reasons. The next execration that occurs is reruns. No, reruns are not just limited to network television and HBO. They occur, or should I say reoccur, in your dream life, too. And, to complete the television analogy, it’s often the worst stuff that is replayed. Go figure.