Daydreams and nap dreams: Content comparisons.
Consciousness and Cognition July 9, 2015 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2015.06.012 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Within-participant nap study with REM and NREM awakenings Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 51 |
| Population | Adults taking daytime naps |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Keywords | Humans Emotions Dreams Mental recall Sleep, rem Circadian rhythm Adolescent Female Young adult Daydreaming Nrem sleep Naps |
| Key points | REM nap dreams were recalled more often (96%) than NREM nap dreams (89%), and both rates exceeded typical nighttime dream recall. REM dreams rated higher than NREM dreams on bizarreness, sensory experience, and emotional intensity. Compared with daydreams, NREM dreams had lower emotional intensity and sensory experience, while REM dreams had higher bizarreness and sensory experience. The authors argue these patterns suggest selective enhancement and inhibition of dream attributes by REM, NREM, and waking state mechanisms. |
Abstract
Differences between nighttime REM and NREM dreams are well-established but only rarely are daytime REM and NREM nap dreams compared with each other or with daydreams. Fifty-one participants took daytime naps (with REM or NREM awakenings) and provided both waking daydream and nap dream reports. They also provided ratings of their bizarreness, sensory experience, and emotion intensity. Recall rates for REM (96%) and NREM (89%) naps were elevated compared to typical recall rates for nighttime dreams (80% and 43% respectively), suggesting an enhanced circadian influence. All attribute ratings were higher for REM than for NREM dreams, replicating findings for nighttime dreams. Compared with daydreams, NREM dreams had lower ratings for emotional intensity and sensory experience while REM dreams had higher ratings for bizarreness and sensory experience. Results support using daytime naps in dream research and suggest that there occurs selective enhancement and inhibition of specific dream attributes by REM, NREM and waking state mechanisms.
Citations in the library
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- The Phenomenal Contents and Neural Correlates of Spontaneous Thoughts across Wakefulness, NREM Sleep, and REM Sleep Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience May 31, 2017
- How deep is the rift between conscious states in sleep and wakefulness? Spontaneous experience over the sleep–wake cycle Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences December 13, 2020
- Exploring the neural correlates of dream phenomenology and altered states of consciousness during sleep Neuroscience of Consciousness 2017
- A Novel Approach to Dream Content Analysis Reveals Links Between Learning-Related Dream Incorporation and Cognitive Abilities Frontiers in Psychology August 6, 2018
- Dream lucidity is associated with positive waking mood. Consciousness and Cognition August 1, 2020
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- Infrequent dream recall associated with low performance but high overnight improvement on mirror-tracing. Journal of Sleep Research August 1, 2015
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