Experiences of self-continuity and self-discontinuity in dreams and its relation with the body and affectivity.
Consciousness and Cognition July 20, 2026 Marina Trakas, Ryan Daley
A stronger sense of self-continuity between dreaming and waking life is linked to positive dream emotions carrying over into waking life, and to a weaker experience of having a body distinct from one's waking body. More frequent experiences of being another person in dreams are associated with more frequent emotions felt as inappropriate to the dream context. No significant links were found between being another person in dreams and lucid dreaming, observer perspectives, or dream recall frequency. The findings point to connections between self-continuity and bodily and affective aspects of dreaming.