PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Most of us remember dreams – some more often or more vividly than others. But how do people interpret dreams?

New research is providing insight into how most people interpret dreams. Researchers say there are certain similarities. People believe that hidden truths present themselves in dreams. This view is consistent across cultural lines and around the globe.

According to an often quoted study, 149 university students in the United States, India, and South Korea all felt that dreams were messages that needed to be taken seriously. Dreams also affect how people act when they are awake.

A survey of Boston commuters found that when they dreamed of a plane crash the night before a scheduled air trip, they would be more likely to change their travel plans. Certainly the study helps us look at dreams but we also can learn how similar most of us are no matter what our background or culture.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor