The single-mindedness and isolation of dreams.
Sleep September 1978 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/1.1.97 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that dreams are "single-minded": they lack simultaneous competing streams of thought and imagery, as shown by four features—absent reflective awareness of dreaming, no alternative images or thoughts during primary dream content, content staying on one thematic track, and no set to remember the dream while it occurs. Proposes this isolation is one manifestation of a broader relative isolation of dream content from presleep and contemporaneous stimuli, organismic state, and autonomic and motor activity. |
Abstract
Dreams are descirbed as "single-minded," meaning that they tend to be unaccompanied by other, simultaneous streams of thought and imagery. Four manifestations of single-mindedness are discussed: (1) the absence of a reflective awareness that one is dreaming while the dream is in progress; (2) the absence of alternative images and thoughts while attending to the primary dream content; (3) the tendency for dream content to stay on a single thematic track; (4) the absence of a set to remember the dream while it is in progress. This isolation of dream content, from other thought systems is then considered as but one manifestation of a more generalized relative isolation of dream content, which includes isolation from presleep stimuli, contemporaneous stimuli, organismic state, and autonomic and motor activity. Some of the implications of dream isolation for dream psychophysiology and theories of dreaming are outlined.