diff --git a/scripts/dream.py b/scripts/dream.py
index ead2b36..f50bef5 100644
--- a/scripts/dream.py
+++ b/scripts/dream.py
@@ -473,7 +473,9 @@ def dream_pipeline():
 
     # ── Stage 1: NREM ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
     print("\n[NREM] Retrieving...")
-    nrem_chunks = retrieve("nrem", excluded_sources=previously_retrieved | session_retrieved)
+    # NREM is replay-and-consolidation — does not exclude prior traces.
+    # Late REM and Early REM exclude prior content for novelty; NREM does not.
+    nrem_chunks = retrieve("nrem", excluded_sources=None)
     session_retrieved.update(c["source"] for c in nrem_chunks)
     # Track sources that scored above Early REM ceiling — these are the only ones Early REM should exclude
     nrem_high_sources = {c["source"] for c in nrem_chunks if c["similarity"] > 0.55}