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Circadian and ultradian influences on dreaming: a dual rhythm model.

Erin J. Wamsley, Yasutaka Hirota, Matthew A. Tucker, Mark R Smith, John S. Antrobus

Brain Research Bulletin October 30, 2006 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2006.09.021 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational study Peer reviewed
Population Human subjects awakened from REM and NREM sleep
Topics Dreaming
Keywords Humans Observer variation Electroencephalography Electrooculography Electromyography Speech Emotions Imagination Dreams Mental recall Problem solving Sleep, rem Circadian rhythm Activity cycles Models, neurological Adult Female
Key findings Dream report characteristics changed in line with REM/NREM and circadian-driven fluctuations in general cortical activation, and the regional activation pattern unique to REM sleep selectively amplified emotionality in REM reports, consistent with the dual rhythm model's predictions.

Abstract

The dual rhythm model of dreaming states that, under high sensory thresholds, heightened general cortical activation common to both REM/NREM and circadian-driven activation cycles sums to produce the main characteristics of dreaming. In addition, the unique pattern of regional brain activation characteristic of REM sleep amplifies the emotional intensity of the dream. Subjects were awakened from REM and NREM sleep once near the nadir of the core body temperature rhythm, where circadian-driven cortical activation was assumed to be low, and again in the late morning, where this activation was presumed to be high. As predicted, changes in the central characteristics of dream reports mirrored REM/NREM and circadian-driven fluctuations in general activation, while at the same time, the regional activation pattern unique to REM sleep amplified dream emotionality selectively in REM reports.

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

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