Dreaming and the brain: Toward a cognitive neuroscience of conscious states
J. Allan Hobson, Edward F Pace-Schott, Robert Stickgold
Cambridge University Press eBooks 2001 DOI: 10.1017/cbo9780511615511.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Dreaming Lucid dreaming |
| Citations | 56 |
| Key findings | The authors argue that psychophysiological studies show clear quantitative differences between REM and NREM mentation and between REM and waking mentation, and that neuroimaging and neurophysiological findings distinguish these states in ways relevant to phenomenology. They propose that isomorphisms exist between dream phenomenology and physiology, and present a three-dimensional model with examples from normally and abnormally changing conscious states. |
Abstract
: Sleep researchers in different disciplines disagree about how fully dreaming can be explained in terms of brain physiology. Debate has focused on whether REM sleep dreaming is qualitatively different from nonREM (NREM) sleep and waking. A review of psychophysiological studies shows clear quantitative differences between REM and NREM mentation and between REM and waking mentation. Recent neuroimaging and neurophysiological studies also differentiate REM, NREM, and waking in features with phenomenological implications. Both evidence and theory suggest that there are isomorphisms between the phenomenology and the physiology of dreams. We present a three-dimensional model with specific examples from normally and abnormally changing conscious states. Keywords: consciousness, dreaming, neuroimaging, neuromodulation, NREM, phenomenology, qualia, REM, sleep Introduction Dreaming is a universal human experience that offers a unique view of consciousness and cognition. It has been studied from the vantage points of philosophy (e.g., Flanagan 1997), psychiatry (e.g., Freud 1900), psychology (e.g., Foulkes 1985), artificial intelligence (e.g., Crick 1994), neural network modeling (Antrobus 1991; 1993b; Fookson & Antrobus 1992), psychophysiology (e.g., Dement & Kleitman 1957b), neurobiology (e.g., Jouvet 1962) and even clinical medicine (e.g., Mahowald & Schenck 1999; Mahowald et al. 1998; Schenck et al. 1993). Because of its broad reach, dream research offers the possibility of bridging the gaps in these fields. We strongly believe that advances in all these domains make this a propitious time to review and further develop these bridges. It is our goal in this target article to do so.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 21
- Nightmare Prevalence, Nightmare Distress, and Self-Reported Psychological Disturbance Sleep 2002
- Dreaming During Non-rapid Eye Movement Sleep in the Absence of Prior Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Sleep December 1, 2004
- Experimental Research on Dreaming: State of the Art and Neuropsychoanalytic Perspectives Frontiers in Psychology 2011
- Spotlight on dream recall: the ages of dreams Nature and Science of Sleep 2018
- Dreaming: a neuroimaging view Schweizer Archiv Fur Neurologie Und Psychiatrie December 7, 2005
and 16 more in the library