Re: how long is the average dream?

Hi Nicole.
I hope you are doing well.

I do not think that a dream typically lasts for a second.  

One complete sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes or so.  Hence, one may 
experience 4 to 5 complete sleep cycles a night. The sleep cycle begins 
with four stages of Slow-Wave Sleep.  These stages then quickly reverse, 
and are followed by the first REM period, about 90 minutes or so after 
falling asleep. Hence, the first REM period will last for 10 minutes since 
a new cycle begins about every 100 minutes. As the night proceeds, the 
length of stages 3 and 4 (called delta or deep sleep) begins to wane, and 
the length of REM sleep increases, up to one full hour after a number of 
cycles. 

Therefore, as the night goes on, you dream for longer periods of time.

But I wonder if you would remember a dream if it lasted only one second.

And how could you describe it?

It would certainly be interesting if what you say is true.  That time is 
somehow elongated when we are dreaming.  Now there's a project for you!

Arash E.
UBC
www.geocities.com/Athens/Troy/7063

Thank you for your question Nicole