The Complexity of Dreams: a Multiscale Entropy Study on Cardiovascular Variability Series.
M Nardelli, U Faraguna, G Grandi, R M Bruno, G Valenza, E P Scilingo
Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference July 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2019.8857120 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractDream recall is linked to higher complexity in cardiovascular control during REM sleep. Researchers recorded electrocardiogram and arterial blood pressure from eight healthy subjects during REM sleep before awakening. Recordings were split into those with and without dream recall. Sample Entropy showed no statistical difference between groups, but multiscale complexity analysis using Distribution Entropy and Fuzzy Entropy revealed that higher cardiovascular complexity is associated with a dreaming experience.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 8 |
| Population | Healthy subjects |
| Key finding | Higher cardiovascular complexity, measured by Distribution Entropy and Fuzzy Entropy, is associated with a dreaming experience during REM sleep. |
Abstract
Uncovering the physiological correlates of dreams is one of the most ambitious aim of multidisciplinary neuroscientific research. Here we investigated Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) dynamics associated with a dream recall, with a particular focus on the complexity assessment on cardiovascular control. We recorded electrocardiogram and arterial blood pressure signals from eight healthy subjects during rapid-eye-movement sleep before awakenings. Recordings were then split into two groups: the ones with a dream experience, and the ones without recall of dream experiences. The randomness of cardiovascular variability series was assessed through Sample Entropy metrics, which did not show any statistical difference between groups. On the other hand, a multiscale complexity analysis based on Distribution Entropy and Fuzzy Entropy revealed that a higher cardiovascular complexity is associated with a dreaming experience.