The neural correlates of dreaming.
Francesca Siclari, Benjamin Baird, Lampros Perogamvros, Giulio Bernardi, Joshua J. LaRocque, Brady A. Riedner, Melanie Boly, Bradley R. Postle, Giulio Tononi
Nature Neuroscience April 10, 2017 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4545 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study using high-density electroencephalography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Keywords | Cerebral cortex Humans Electroencephalography Polysomnography Dreams Mental recall Sleep stages Middle aged Female Young adult |
| Key findings | Dream reports in both REM and non-REM sleep were associated with local decreases in low-frequency activity in posterior cortical regions, and high-frequency activity there correlated with specific dream contents. Real-time monitoring of this posterior 'hot zone' predicted whether individuals reported dreaming or no dream experience during non-REM sleep, which the authors propose may be a core correlate of conscious experiences in sleep. |
Abstract
Consciousness never fades during waking. However, when awakened from sleep, we sometimes recall dreams and sometimes recall no experiences. Traditionally, dreaming has been identified with rapid eye-movement (REM) sleep, characterized by wake-like, globally 'activated', high-frequency electroencephalographic activity. However, dreaming also occurs in non-REM (NREM) sleep, characterized by prominent low-frequency activity. This challenges our understanding of the neural correlates of conscious experiences in sleep. Using high-density electroencephalography, we contrasted the presence and absence of dreaming in NREM and REM sleep. In both NREM and REM sleep, reports of dream experience were associated with local decreases in low-frequency activity in posterior cortical regions. High-frequency activity in these regions correlated with specific dream contents. Monitoring this posterior 'hot zone' in real time predicted whether an individual reported dreaming or the absence of dream experiences during NREM sleep, suggesting that it may constitute a core correlate of conscious experiences in sleep.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucid Dreaming: a State of Consciousness with Features of Both Waking and Non-Lucid Dreaming Student volunteers trained to become lucid and signal lucidity with horizontal eye... | 2009 | Observational study | n = 6 |
| Nightmare Prevalence, Nightmare Distress, and Self-Reported Psychological Disturbance Young adults with a mean age of 20 years | 2002 | Prospective observational study | n = 116 |
| Long-term effects of extreme situational stress on sleep and dreaming Survivors of traumatic events who complained of sleep disturbances, compared with... | 1987 | Case-control study | n = 11 |
| The relationship of nightmare frequency and nightmare distress to well‐being Adults who reported dreams | 2004 | Observational cohort | n = 147 |
| Dreaming in NREM Sleep: A High-Density EEG Study of Slow Waves and Spindles Healthy human subjects | 2018 | Observational cohort | n = 14 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 289
- Theories of consciousness. Nature Reviews Neuroscience July 1, 2022
- Are the Neural Correlates of Consciousness in the Front or in the Back of the Cerebral Cortex? Clinical and Neuroimaging Evidence Journal of Neuroscience October 4, 2017
- The spectral exponent of the resting EEG indexes the presence of consciousness during unresponsiveness induced by propofol, xenon, and ketamine Neuroimage January 11, 2019
- Consciousness among delta waves: a paradox? Brain March 6, 2021
- The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews March 14, 2019
and 284 more in the library
Cites 14
- Experience sampling during fMRI reveals default network and executive system contributions to mind wandering. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences May 26, 2009
- Neural correlates of consciousness: progress and problems Nature Reviews Neuroscience April 20, 2016
- Lucid Dreaming: a State of Consciousness with Features of Both Waking and Non-Lucid Dreaming Sleep September 1, 2009
- Neural Correlates of Dream Lucidity Obtained from Contrasting Lucid versus Non-Lucid REM Sleep: A Combined EEG/fMRI Case Study Sleep June 29, 2012
- Assessing sleep consciousness within subjects using a serial awakening paradigm Frontiers in Psychology 2013
and 9 more in the library