Dreams in two small-scale forager groups, the BaYaka and Hadza, contain more threat-related content than dreams in Global North populations, yet the Hadza show low negative emotions in their dreams, suggesting emotion regulation through linking threats with non-fearful contexts. The BaYaka display more community-oriented dream content. In contrast, a Global North Nightmare Disorder group shows increased negative emotion content, and a Canadian student sample during COVID-19 shows the highest anxiety dream content. The findings support the idea that dreams in non-clinical populations can reduce anxiety and negative emotions via emotional release, contributing to understanding the evolutionary function of dreaming.
Dreams in two small-scale foraging societies—the BaYaka of the Republic of Congo and the Hadza of Tanzania—show patterns that support an emotion regulation function, contrasting with dreams in Global North populations. Analyzing 896 dreams from 234 individuals, the BaYaka had more community-oriented content, while both foraging groups showed heightened threat dream content. Yet the Hadza displayed low negative emotions in their dreams, suggesting a link between potential threats and non-fearful contexts that reduces anxiety. In comparison, a Global North Nightmare Disorder group had increased negative emotion content, and a Canadian student sample during the COVID-19 pandemic showed the highest anxiety dream content. These findings support the idea that dreams can effectively regulate emotions through catharsis, contributing to understanding the evolutionary significance of dreaming.
Pairing a sound with imagery rehearsal therapy during REM sleep reduces nightmare frequency and increases positive dream emotions more than therapy alone. Thirty-six patients with nightmare disorder performed one initial therapy session where half heard a sound while generating a positive nightmare outcome; the other half did not. All patients then practiced therapy nightly at home for two weeks while a wireless headband played the sound during REM sleep. After two weeks, the group that heard the sound reported fewer nightmares and more positive dream emotions, and the reduction in nightmares persisted at three months. The results indicate that targeted memory reactivation during REM sleep can strengthen therapy effects and modulate dream emotions.
Pairing a sound with a positive imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) session and then replaying that sound during REM sleep reduces nightmare frequency and increases positive dream emotions more than IRT alone. Thirty-six patients with nightmare disorder performed an initial IRT session; half were exposed to a sound while generating a positive outcome (TMR group), and the other half were not (control group). All patients did IRT at home for two weeks and heard the sound during REM sleep via a wireless headband. The TMR group had fewer nightmares per week after two weeks and sustained improvement at three months. The results suggest TMR can potentiate therapy and modulate dream emotions.