Do you dream in black and white? If so, the chances are high that you are over 55 and were brought up watching a monochrome television set. New research suggests that the type of television you watched as a child has a profound effect on the color of your dreams.

Almost everyone under the age of 25 dreams in color, but thousands of those over 55, all of whom were brought up with black and white sets, often dream in monochrome. However, evidence also suggests that before the advent of television, nearly everyone dreamed in color.

This suggests there could be a critical period during childhood when what you watch has an impact on the way dreams are formed.