A systematic review of dreams and nightmares recall in patients with rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder.
Elisabetta Fasiello, Serena Scarpelli, Maurizio Gorgoni, Valentina Alfonsi, Andrea Galbiati, Luigi De Gennaro
Journal of Sleep Research June 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13768 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Keywords | Nightmares Sleep |
| Key findings | Dream recall in REM sleep behaviour disorder offers a privileged model for studying the neurobiological, electrophysiological, and cognitive mechanisms of REM sleep and dreaming. |
Abstract
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder is a REM sleep parasomnia characterised by the loss of the physiological muscle atonia during REM sleep, resulting in dream enactment behaviours that may cause injuries to patients or their bed partners. The nocturnal motor episodes seem to respond to the dream contents, which are often vivid and violent. These behavioural and oneiric features make the REM sleep behaviour disorder a potential model to study dreams. This review aims to unify the literature about dream recall in REM sleep behaviour disorder as a privileged approach to study dreams, systematically reviewing studies that applied retrospective and prospective experimental designs to provide a comprehensive overview of qualitative and quantitative aspects of dream recall in this REM sleep parasomnia. The present work highlights that the study of dreaming in REM sleep behaviour disorder is useful to understand unique aspects of this pathology and to explore neurobiological, electrophysiological, and cognitive mechanisms of REM sleep and dreaming.
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 4
- Are We Asking the Right Questions? Sex Specificity of Dream Characteristics in Probable Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Movement Disorders Clinical Practice August 15, 2025
- The effects of RBD medications on dream content: A critical review of evidence. Sleep Medicine October 21, 2025
- Dream Recall, Nightmares, and Aggression-Related Dream Content in Patients with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD). Sleep Science August 18, 2025
- Exploring the role of dreams: insights from recent studies. Current opinion in pulmonary medicine November 1, 2024
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and 13 more in the library