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Stress-related biomarkers of dream recall and implicit memory under anaesthesia.

P Aceto, C Lai, V Perilli, C Dello Russo, B Federico, P Navarra, R Proietti, L Sollazzi

Anaesthesia November 2013 DOI: 10.1111/anae.12386 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 110
Population Patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia
Intervention routine care
Duration Assessments upon awakening and approximately 24 h after the operation
Measures cortisol, prolactin, dream recall, explicit memory, implicit memory
Topics Dreaming
Key findings Auditory presentation of a story during general anaesthesia was associated with lower intra-operative serum prolactin compared with routine care. Patients who recalled dreaming had higher intra-operative prolactin and lower cortisol than those who did not. The authors propose this interaction may be useful for ensuring postoperative amnesia.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether auditory presentation of a story during general anaesthesia might influence stress hormone changes and thus affecting dream recall and/or implicit memory. One hundred and ten patients were randomly assigned either to hear a recording of a story through headphones or to have routine care with no auditory recording while undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Anaesthesia was standardised. Blood samples for cortisol and prolactin assays were collected 20 min before anaesthesia and 5 min after pneumoperitoneum. Dream recall and explicit/implicit memory were investigated upon awakening from anaesthesia and approximately 24 h after the end of the operation. Auditory presentation was associated with lower intra-operative serum prolactin concentration compared with control (p = 0.0006). Twenty-seven patients with recall of dreaming showed higher intra-operative prolactin (p = 0.004) and lower cortisol (p = 0.03) concentrations compared with those without dream recall. The knowledge of this interaction might be useful in the quest to ensure postoperative amnesia.

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on dreaming, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Efficacy of a Cognitive‐Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia and Nightmares in Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans With PTSD Combat veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and/or Operation Iraqi Freedom (mean age... 2013 Randomized controlled trial n = 40
Lucid Dreaming Treatment for Nightmares: A Pilot Study Chronic nightmare sufferers 2006 Randomized controlled trial n = 23
Testing the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in lucid dreaming: A tDCS study Participants spending three consecutive nights in a sleep laboratory 2013 Randomized controlled trial n = 19
Pre-sleep treatment with galantamine stimulates lucid dreaming: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study Adults with high dream recall and an interest in lucid dreaming 2018 Randomized crossover trial n = 121
Studies with lucid dreaming as add-on therapy to Gestalt therapy Adults with nightmares (ICD-10: F51.5) at least twice a week 2015 Randomized controlled trial n = 32

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