[ASalazarMX]

While I grudgingly recognize that your brain is indeed significantly sharper the younger you are (so epiphanies like that become less likely through the years), I think this experience came from subconsciously recognizing patterns, and gathering enough experience and interest so it could be pieced together by sleeping on it.

In the 90s I was obsessed with Tetris, and actually found new strategies while dreaming. It is such a simple game that the dreams weren't unrealistic, contrary to other dream epiphanies that turned out to be gibberish to the awakened mind.