[Fiction question] Is there anything unusual about the dreams of twins?

Looking around on the internet, the answer – at least according to a lot of twins that took the time to post something about their dreams – said yes, they frequently have the same dreams.

What seems to be extremely common among twins, however, is that parents and twins themselves report things about twins having some kind of secret “twin language”. It’s so common, in fact, that they have a name for it: idioglossia or cryptophasia.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/159485/twins_an_unspoken_bond.html?cat=9

http://multiples.about.com/b/2007/10/19/twin-talk-do-twins-have-a-secret-language.htm

http://www.twinstuff.com/index.php/component/content/article/26-twin-facts/43-being-a-twin?directory=27

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioglossia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptophasia

twins in some cases have dillusions of grandeur thrust uppon them by certain factions, that they actually believe they will win the x factor, that being the case it would be the shows swansong, if the proggramme were to continue Simon Cowell may just as well, when constructing the format for the future, say to the hopeful wannabees that good singers need not apply rather acts that would be more at home in variety are more likely to grab the public’s attention. what a fickle lot we are.

It’s only true for identical twins, not fraternal.

My twin brother and I have not had any twin related dreams. That is to say, dreams that cross in that realm.

We have had dreams that relate to the inordinate amount of competitive questions put upon twins. “Who is faster, who is cuter, who to the girls like better, who is smarter, who is stronger, who is taller” and the like. These questions, while they may be present among regular siblings, are constant, blunt and pepper every meeting.

My brother has had an unwarranted “fight or flight” like response to my being at death’s door when he had no reason to suspect anything was wrong. He was in a class and asked to be excused, went to the office and made a call to the right hospital, asked for our folks and found out I was in the emergency room. When he left that morning he was told I had the flu.

We are not identical.

Being an identical twin, I can say that my sister and I definately shared similar dreams. When we were young, we believed that sleeping with our heads touching will make us dream the same. And though sometimes was true, I don’t think head contact was the reason. But, yeah, I believe being twins we share same dreams occasionaly.

Dreams are shaped by experiences. Twins have common experiences and different experiences. There might also be some genetic influence when it comes to dreams (like anxiety). So for identical twins that could be a factor as well.

@mattbrowne – Right on. The world, intentional or not puts you in a constant state of “similarity” as a twin. Less so now than when I was young. But even now, it just can’t be helped. Not that it has to be.