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TV Makes Us Dream in Color

Research suggest childhood TV-watching affects whether dreams are in color or not

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 18, 2008 5:50 AM CDT

(Newser) – The advent of color TV may have injected color into generations of dreams, the Daily Telegraph reports. A study finds that people who grew up watching black-and-white TV often dream in monochrome—as people are believed to have done before the dawn of television—while those who grew up with color images very rarely dream in black-and-white.

The findings suggest that TV leaves a huge imprint on developing minds, says the psychology student who ran the study. TV is "interesting and emotionally engaging and even dreamlike," she explains. "So when you dream you may copy what you have seen on the screen." She notes that reports from dreamland are rarely reliable, however, and it's possible TV only influences people to think their dreams were in color.

The advent of Technicolor is suspected of being behind a shift from most dreams being in black and white to most dreams being in color.
The advent of Technicolor is suspected of being behind a shift from most dreams being in black and white to most dreams being in color.   (©adactio)
Only 4.4% of under-25's studied reporting dreaming in black and white, as compared to around a quarter of over 55's.
Only 4.4% of under-25's studied reporting dreaming in black and white, as compared to around a quarter of over 55's.   (©tinali778)
A new study suggests that childhood television watching has a strong effect on whether people dream in color or monochrome.
A new study suggests that childhood television watching has a strong effect on whether people dream in color or monochrome.   (Shutter Stock)
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