0083 The Multiplicity of Dreams Reported from Nightly Awakenings
Sleep May 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsaf090.0083 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 51 |
| Population | College psychology students (35 F/16 M, mean age 22.2) |
| Key points | Among 44 participants completing the protocol, 47% of 395 awakenings involved some form of dreaming (25% content dreams, 19% white dreams, 3.5% nightmares), and non-dreaming was significantly more common in the first two hourly awakenings than the last two. Higher intake dream-recall scores were significantly associated with more dreams reported during the study night (Pearson r = 0.571). |
Abstract
Dream recall has high individual variability affected by a wide spectrum of methodological variables. The possibility that multiple dreams are typically experienced each night has received minimal study. 51 subjects were recruited from college psychology classes (35 F/16 M, mean age 22.2). The intake questionnaire queried subject dream recall varying from no dream recall=1, to multiple dreams from each night of sleep=7. A smart phone app with a sixty-minute delay was then used at home to induce hourly awakenings utilizing a bed side check list to notate: no dreaming or defined forms of dreaming including dreams with content, white dreams (awareness of dreaming without content), and nightmares. 44 subjects (86%) competed the full protocol of 8 dream checkoff reports. Reasons for discontinuation: concern with sleep loss (1), technical issues with alarm (2), early rising for work (1), spousal complaint (1). The mean number of dreams reported on intake using Likert scale was 4.647 (1-3/week). Checkoff dream recall reports were obtained from 395 total awakenings: no dreaming (#150 - 38%); content dreams #98 (25%); white dreams #74 (19%); and nightmares # 14 (3.5%). Some form of dreaming was reported on 186 (47%) of awakenings. Mean number of dreams reported was 4.0/individual during the night of study. One individual reported no dream recall on any awakening and 2/51 reported dreams with content on every awakening. 6/51 (12%) reported some form of dreaming at every awakening. For individuals completing the full protocol, non-dreaming was reported significantly more often on the first two hourly awakenings compared to the last 2 awakenings (X2=24.7, p< 0.001). There was a statistically significant association between reported intake questionnaire dream recall and the number of dreams reported on checklist during the night of study (Pearson r = 0.571, p < 0.001). This small pilot study utilizes a novel, low-tec, safe, and easily expandable protocol to study changes dream recall across the night. Individuals reporting a higher frequency of dream recall on intake had a significantly higher level of dreaming reported from serial awakenings. 12 % of subjects reported some form of dreaming on every awakening. none