A meta-analysis of the relation between dream content and memory consolidation
Lauren Hudachek, Erin J. Wamsley
Sleep December 11, 2023 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad111 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Key findings | A strong and statistically significant association exists between task-related dreaming and memory performance (SMD = 0.51 [95% CI 0.28, 0.74], p < 0.001), with the relationship significant for NREM but not REM dreams. |
Abstract
Abstract The frequent appearance of newly learned information in dreams suggests that dream content is influenced by memory consolidation. Many studies have tested this hypothesis by asking whether dreaming about a learning task is associated with improved memory, but results have been inconsistent. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the strength of the association between learning-related dreams and post-sleep memory improvement. We searched the literature for studies that (1) trained participants on a pre-sleep learning task and then tested their memory after sleep, and (2) associated post-sleep memory improvement with the extent to which dreams incorporated learning task content. Sixteen studies qualified for inclusion, which together reported 45 effects. Integrating across effects, we report a strong and statistically significant association between task-related dreaming and memory performance (SMD = 0.51 [95% CI 0.28, 0.74], p < 0.001). Among studies using polysomnography, this relationship was statistically significant for dreams collected from non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep (n = 10) but not for dreams collected from rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (n = 12). There was a significant association between dreaming and memory for all types of learning tasks studied. This meta-analysis provides further evidence that dreaming about a learning task is associated with improved memory performance, suggesting that dream content may be an indication of memory consolidation. Furthermore, we report preliminary evidence that the relationship between dreaming and memory may be stronger in NREM sleep compared to REM.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dreaming as mind wandering: evidence from functional neuroimaging and first-person content reports. | 2013 | Systematic review with meta-analytic comparison | |
| Lucid dreaming incidence: A quality effects meta-analysis of 50 years of research | 2016 | Meta-analysis | |
| The effectiveness of lucid dreaming therapy in patients with nightmares: A systematic review. Adults with chronic and recurring nightmares | 2023 | Systematic review | |
| The relationships between insomnia, nightmares, and dreams: A systematic review Individuals without a concomitant psychopathology, including those with insomnia or... | 2024 | Systematic review | |
| Psychosocial treatments for nightmares in adults and children: a systematic review | 2023 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 22
- Enhancing and advancing the understanding and study of dreaming and memory consolidation: Reflections, challenges, theoretical clarity, and methodological considerations Consciousness and Cognition June 27, 2024
- Impact of Pre-Sleep Visual Media Exposure on Dreams: A Scoping Review Brain Sciences June 29, 2024
- Memory updating in dreams SLEEP Advances 2024
- Accelerated recovery using magnesium ibogaine: characterizing the subjective experience of its rapid healing from neuropsychiatric disorders. npj Mental Health Research January 31, 2026
- Experimentally inducing dreams of remote emotional memory SLEEP Advances 2025
and 17 more in the library
Cites 12
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- Whole-body procedural learning benefits from targeted memory reactivation in REM sleep and task-related dreaming. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory September 1, 2021
and 7 more in the library