Neural Correlate of the Impact of Dream Recall on Emotional Processing

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.