Investigation on the Nature of Epic Dreaming: Is It Nightmare or Vivid Dream
Connie B. Lin
Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences January 13, 2023 DOI: 10.54097/ehss.v7i.4693 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Epic dreaming patients, nightmare sufferers, and normal dreamers |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Key findings | The authors propose that epic dreaming is not simply vivid dreaming but stems from a combination of insufficient sleep quality and subjective dream anxiety, similar to nightmares. They report that epic dreaming and nightmares share a tendency toward lighter, inefficient sleep and higher neuroticism and openness than normal dreamers, but differ in REM sleep proportion, with neither group showing psychopathological influences. |
Abstract
Epic dreaming is a type of disturbed dreaming described as experiencing daytime fatigue after dreaming all night. To investigate whether such phenomena is simply a vivid dream or more of a disturbing nightmare, we are going to look at the physiological and psychological aspect of epic dreaming patients along the behaviors of nightmares. By comparison, we see a similarity of inclination towards objectively lighter and inefficient sleep but difference in REM sleep proportion. Additionally, neither kind of disturbed dreams are objectively affected by psychopathological influences, while both patients score relatively higher in neuroticism and openness than normal dreamers. From these common qualities, epic dreaming might not be just normal vivid dreaming but is rooted from the combination of insufficient sleep quality and subjective dream anxiety just as nightmares are. Based on these factors, future research could focus on the quantification of the subjective dream quality and subjective dream perception to explore better solution for disturbance afflicted by epic dreaming.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming | 2019 | Review | |
| Sleep and dreaming are for important matters | 2013 | Review | |
| Nightmare Disorder and Isolated Sleep Paralysis | 2020 | Review | |
| My Dream, My Rules: Can Lucid Dreaming Treat Nightmares? | 2019 | Review | |
| Dream Recall: State or Trait Variable? Part I: Model, Theories, Methodology and Trait Factors | 1996 | Review |