The Neural Architecture of Dream Recall Frequency: Insights from Interindividual Variations in Brain Structure and Function
Mariana Pereira, Paola Galdi, Ting Mei, Renate Rutiku, Irene Klærke Mikkelsen, Alberto Llera, René Scheeringa, Christian Beckmann, Florian Krause, Martin Dresler, Kristian Sandberg
bioRxiv May 21, 2025 preprint DOI: 10.1101/2025.05.20.655114 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational neuroimaging study (cross-sectional) |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 258 |
| Population | Healthy individuals |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Key findings | Higher dream recall frequency was associated with increased white matter microstructure integrity in orbitofrontal, parahippocampal, superior parietal, and occipital regions, decreased gray matter volume in occipital and temporal areas, and reduced resting-state connectivity across default mode, visual, and dorsal attention networks, particularly in the right precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex. The authors suggest these patterns support a top-down model of dreaming. |
Abstract
Dreaming represents a complex and universal aspect of human sleep, yet it remains an intriguing phenomenon, with the neural mechanisms underlying dream experiences and their frequency not fully understood. This study employs a multimodal neuroimaging approach, integrating quantitative multi-parameter mapping, diffusion tensor imaging, and resting-state functional MRI, to investigate the neural correlates of dream recall frequency (DRF) in a large cohort of 258 healthy individuals. By employing Linked Independent Component Analysis (LICA), we were able to discern distinctive patterns of brain structure and function that correlated with variations in DRF. Our findings elucidate a complex relationship between dream recall and brain microstructure integrity, particularly in white matter regions of the orbitofrontal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, superior parietal lobule, and occipital cortex. Higher DRF was related to increased white matter microstructure integrity in these regions and decreased gray matter volume in occipital and temporal areas. In terms of functional measures, higher DRF was associated with reduced connectivity across a range of resting-state networks, including the default mode, visual, and dorsal attention networks. This was particularly evident in the right precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex. These results suggest that enhanced dream recall may be related to the organization of higher-order visual and cognitive processing areas, supporting a top-down model of dreaming. This study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the neural substrates underlying individual differences in dream recall, offering a foundation for future investigations into the neurobiology and causal relationships of dreaming.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucid Dreaming Verified by Volitional Communication during Rem Sleep Selected subjects proficient in lucid dreaming | 1981 | Experimental study | n = 5 |
| Incorporation of concern- and nonconcern-related verbal stimuli into dream content. Seven male subjects studied during sleep Stages 2 and REM | 1981 | Experimental study | n = 7 |
| Lucid Dreaming and Alpha Activity: A Preliminary Report Good dream recallers | 1982 | Experimental study | n = 10 |
| Lucid dreaming during NREM sleep: Two case reports | 2012 | Sleep laboratory study | |
| The Dream Catcher experiment: blinded analyses failed to detect markers of dreaming consciousness in EEG spectral power. Human participants during sleep | 2020 | Experimental study with blinded classification | n = 9 |
Citations in the library
Cites 14
- Amygdala and hippocampus volumetry and diffusivity in relation to dreaming Human Brain Mapping August 25, 2010
- Dream Recall: State or Trait Variable? Part I: Model, Theories, Methodology and Trait Factors Imagination, Cognition and Personality October 1, 1996
- Shared EEG correlates between non-REM parasomnia experiences and dreams. Nature Communications May 9, 2024
- The role of mindful acceptance and lucid dreaming in nightmare frequency and distress. Scientific Reports September 21, 2022
- Dreaming and dream amnesia in the light of reactive and predictive homeostasis November 25, 2022
and 9 more in the library