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Can you forget? – New episode online! “Like a dream“

It’s been quite a while since the last episode on sleep. But there are some interesting new developments in sleep research that we definitely want to discuss. And along the way, we’ll touch on the importance of citizen science in psychological and sleep/dream research.

This time, we invited three sleep and dream researchers: Gordon Feld (ZI Mannheim), Kristoffer Appel (Institute of Sleep and Dream Technologies), and Hans Marius Lange (former student colleague at SFB 1280), who developed an app for sleep research at home.

In this episode, we’ll recap: What is sleep anyway, and when are you no longer awake? What happens in the brain when we sleep? And we’ll talk about phenomena that have been widely discussed in public in recent years: lucid dreaming, communication during sleep, sleep apps, and the idea that you can still learn things at night.

Which of these are scientifically sound and of interest to sleep research? And how can we use citizen science (i.e., science by and with the help of non-scientists) to gather data in sleep research? The episode also offers you some practical tips and good arguments for finally going to bed. Enjoy and thank you for listening!


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New Year, New Me: The Facts

As the calendar turns to a new year, millions of people around the world commit to New Year’s resolutions, making promises to use the new year as a fresh beginning and an opportunity for transformation. In 2024, almost three-quarters of the British population set themselves New Year’s resolutions — that’s around 40 million people (or the entire population of Canada). This tradition was particularly strong among younger generations, with 96% of Generation Z (aged 18-27) planning resolutions, compared to just 35% of the Silent Generation (aged 79+).

Most common new years resolutions:

  1. Saving more money (52%)
  2. Eat healthier (50%)
  3. Exercise more (48%)
  4. Lose weight (37%)
  5. Spend more time with family/friends (35%)

How long do most resolutions normally last before being broken?

  • Data from America (2016) shows that 75% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first week. 
  • 64% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first month. 
  • 46% of individuals in America keep their resolutions past the 6-month mark.

What makes resolutions stick?

Oscarsson et al. (2020) conducted research into what makes New Year’s resolutions stick. Biggest success rates depended on how people phrased their goals. Participants who set approach-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) than those with avoidance-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) were significantly more successful (58.9% vs. 47.1%) at sticking to their goals.

The study also investigates the effects of outside support. These participants received monthly follow-ups and emails with information and exercises for coping with hurdles when striving toward personal goals, and were also encouraged to set goals using the SMART technique and to set interim goals. The group that received some support was exclusively and significantly more successful compared to the groups who received a lot of support or no support at all. 

Additionally, you might feel more successful if you set goals that are measurable in numbers. While success for a person striving to quit smoking or lose weight could easily be measured in the number of cigarettes smoked or body mass index, the success for a person striving to “take better care of themselves” could be highly subjective and possibly impossible to measure.

So as we enter 2026, let’s remember to work with our brain’s natural learning system: Frame your goals positively, break them into manageable steps, and celebrate small wins along the way.