Replaying the Game: Hypnagogic Images in Normals and Amnesics
Robert Stickgold, April Malia, Denise Maguire, David Roddenberry, Margaret O'Connor
Science October 13, 2000 DOI: 10.1126/science.290.5490.350 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPeople who played Tetris reported seeing involuntary, game-like images as they fell asleep. Three amnesic patients with damage to the medial temporal lobes also reported these hypnagogic images, even though they could not remember playing the game, indicating that such imagery does not require the declarative memory system. Control participants reported images from older versions of Tetris they had played before, showing that remote memories can shape the images that arise from recent experience.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Participants playing Tetris, including three amnesic patients with bilateral medial temporal lobe damage and control participants |
| Key finding | Hypnagogic imagery from Tetris can occur without declarative memory, and remote memories can influence these images. |
Abstract
Participants playing the computer game Tetris reported intrusive, stereotypical, visual images of the game at sleep onset. Three amnesic patients with extensive bilateral medial temporal lobe damage produced similar hypnagogic reports despite being unable to recall playing the game, suggesting that such imagery may arise without important contribution from the declarative memory system. In addition, control participants reported images from previously played versions of the game, demonstrating that remote memories can influence the images from recent waking experience.