Neural Correlate of the Impact of Dream Recall on Emotional Processing
Carlo Lai, Giada Lucarelli, G. Pellicano, G. Massaro, Daniela Altavilla, P. Aceto
Dreaming (New York, N.Y.) March 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1037/drm0000096 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractDream recall increases activation in fronto-limbic brain areas during emotional processing. Thirty-seven women were randomly assigned to either recall a dream or report work experiences between two sessions of viewing emotional images. Electroencephalography showed that the dream-recall group had increased fronto-limbic activation and decreased activation in the anterior middle frontal gyrus and temporo-parietal junction from the first to the second session, while the control group showed decreased limbic activation. The authors suggest that dream recall favors an emotional response.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 37 |
| Population | Women |
| Intervention | Dream recall |
| Keywords | Psychology |
| Key finding | Dream recall increased activation of fronto-limbic areas and decreased activation of the anterior middle frontal gyrus and temporo-parietal junction during emotional exposition, suggesting it favors an emotional response. |
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dream recall on the neurophysiological correlates of emotional processing. The hypothesis was that dream recall will produce an increased activation of fronto-limbic areas during an emotional task. Thirty-seven women were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups. Both groups were exposed to a visual task with emotional images (positive vs. negative) presented in two stages (T0 and T1). Between T0 and T1, in the experimental group, women were asked to recall and report a dream; whereas, in the control group, they were asked to report their work experiences. Electroencephalography data were continuously recorded in each participant, except during the personal report session. Event-related potential analyses showed an interaction effect of Time (T0 vs. T1) × Condition (positive vs. negative) × Group (experimental vs. control) in temporo-parietal montage at P100; and Condition × Hemisphere × Group in frontal montage from 200 to 1,000 ms. Standardized low resolution electromagnetic tomography results showed an increased activation of the fronto-limbic areas and a decreased activation of the anterior middle frontal gyrus and temporo-parietal junction at T1 compared with T0 in the experimental group. Conversely, in the control group, a decreased activation in limbic areas was found. Dream recall was associated with an increased intensity of the limbic and temporal circuits during emotional exposition, suggesting that dream recall seems to favor an emotional response.