A critical evaluation and synthesis of theoretical literature has revealed that memory reactivations in sleep, which are believed to drive memory consolidation, could also be a key mechanism in the production of dream content, thus marking dreams as a reflection of memory consolidation. This proposition remains untested empirically, as research has instead focused on testing the enhancing...
Empirical investigations that search for a link between dreaming and sleep-dependent memory consolidation have focused on testing for an association between dreaming of what was learned, and improved memory performance for learned material. Empirical support for this is mixed, perhaps owing to the inherent challenges presented by the nature of dreams, and methodological inconsistencies. The...
Dream recall ability can vary between and within individuals, dependent on a number of influencing factors, including personality dimensions, number of nocturnal awakenings, and attitudes towards dreaming. Only a few studies, however, consider the possible connection of dream recall ability to general waking memory ability, or the influence of being motivated to actively remember dreams. The...
Dreams can sometimes incorporate external sensory stimuli (e.g. sounds, smells and physical sensations) into their course and content, either directly or indirectly. This shows that the brain is still able to monitor, process, and perceive what is happening in the surrounding environment during sleep. This study aimed to examine stimulus incorporation in dreams using two auditory stimuli of...