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Was I Dreaming or Did it Really Happen? A Comparison between Real and Artificial Dream Reports

Corrado Cavallero, Vincenzo Natale

Imagination, Cognition and Personality September 1, 1989 DOI: 10.2190/ckmk-5c18-tu5y-3prf (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Experimental study Peer reviewed
Sample size 6
Population Six human subjects providing mentation reports during experimental sleep sessions
Topics Dreaming
Citations 5
Key findings Comparisons of 24 dream reports and 12 simulated dream reports along seven structural dimensions produced no significant differences, and three groups of thirty judges each failed to distinguish real from artificial reports above chance. The authors interpret this as supporting the hypothesis that the cognitive processing involved in dream production is not unique to the sleeping state.

Abstract

Thirty-six mentation reports (24 dream reports and 12 simulated dream reports) were provided by six subjects during experimental sessions. Dream reports were collected upon REM and Sleep Onset experimental awakenings. Artificial reports were obtained by asking the subject: “Try to invent a dream and tell me it as you go along.” To detect differences between the two types of reports, comparisons along seven structural dimensions were carried out. These dimensions included self-involvement, continuity, temporal attributes, implausibility, and three types of bizarreness. None of the analyses performed yielded significant results. Moreover, three groups of thirty judges each were unable to distinguish real from artificial reports at a rate greater than chance. Results are interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that cognitive processing involved in dream production is not unique to the sleeping state.

Comparable studies

Other experimental studies on dreaming, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Lucid Dreaming Verified by Volitional Communication during Rem Sleep Selected subjects proficient in lucid dreaming 1981 Experimental study n = 5
Slow Wave Sleep Dreaming Fifty volunteers sleeping in a sleep laboratory 1992 Observational study with counterbalanced within-subject awakenings n = 50
Incorporation of concern- and nonconcern-related verbal stimuli into dream content. Seven male subjects studied during sleep Stages 2 and REM 1981 Experimental study n = 7
Lucid Dreaming and Alpha Activity: A Preliminary Report Good dream recallers 1982 Experimental study n = 10
Lucid dreaming during NREM sleep: Two case reports 2012 Sleep laboratory study

Citations in the library

Cited by 4

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