Dream Recall Frequency in Epilepsy Patients with Partial and Generalized Seizures: A Dream Diary Study
Enrica Bonanni, Carlo Cipolli, Alfonso Iudice, Michela Mazzetti, Luigi Murri
Epilepsia August 1, 2002 DOI: 10.1046/j.1528-1157.2002.48101.x (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPatients with complex partial seizures (CPSs) recall dreams about twice as often as patients with generalized seizures, regardless of which side of the temporal lobe the epileptic focus is on, the presence of a visible brain lesion, or whether a seizure occurred the previous day. Nearly all medicated epilepsy patients in the study could recall dreams, but CPS patients showed a significantly higher dream recall frequency than reported in earlier work. The finding supports the idea that temporoparietal areas of both hemispheres contribute to dream production and recall.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 61 |
| Population | Patients with complex partial seizures (right or left temporal lobe focus) and patients with idiopathic generalized seizures |
| Duration | 60-day dream diary |
| Key finding | Dream recall frequency is about twice as high in patients with complex partial seizures as in those with generalized seizures, independent of focus side, lesion presence, or previous-day seizures. |
Abstract
Summary: Purpose: The frequency of dream recall (DR) in patients with brain diseases has proved to be indicative of the relation between sleep disturbances and the functioning of cognitive processes during sleep. In this study we attempted to ascertain whether DR frequency in patients with complex partial seizures (CPSs) is higher than that in those with generalized seizures.Methods: DR frequency was assessed by means of a 60‐day dream diary in patients with CPSs, whose epileptic focus was in the right (n = 12) or left temporal lobe (n = 28), and with idiopathic generalized seizures (n = 21). The patients enrolled in the study were not impaired in global cognitive and memory functioning.Results: The ability to recall dreams was established in nearly all patients with either CPSs or generalized seizures. DR frequency resulted significantly higher (about twice) in patients with CPSs, regardless of (a) the side of the epileptic focus, (b) the presence of a cerebral lesion detectable on a computed tomography (CT) scan, or (c) the occurrence of seizures in the previous day.Conclusions: These findings indicate that overall, DR occurs in medicated epilepsy patients with CPSs more frequently than reported in previous studies. The high DR frequency observed in these patients, regardless of the side of the epileptic focus, is in agreement with the assumption that tempoparietal areas of both hemispheres are involved in the production and recall of the dream experience.