Prevalence of auditory, olfactory, and gustatory experiences in home dreams.
Antonio Zadra, Tore Nielsen, Don C Donderi
Perceptual and Motor Skills December 1, 1998 DOI: 10.2466/pms.1998.87.3.819 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study using questionnaires and home dream diaries Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 164 |
| Population | 49 men and 115 women who kept home dream diaries |
| Duration | Home dream diary kept for two to three consecutive weeks |
| Keywords | Humans Prevalence Retrospective studies Imagination Dreams Mental recall Sensation Hearing Smell Taste Personality inventory Sex factors Female Surveys and questionnaires |
| Key findings | Auditory experiences appeared in about 53% of 3372 dream reports, whereas olfactory and gustatory sensations each occurred in roughly 1%. Retrospective questionnaires indicated that about 33% of men and 40% of women recalled smell or taste in dreams, and a significantly greater percentage of women than men reported at least one dream with olfactory references. The authors state the results support prior findings that varied sensory experiences, though rare, can occur in dreams. |
Abstract
Although numerous studies have investigated the content of laboratory and home dream reports, surprisingly little is known about the prevalence of various sensory modes in dreams. 49 men and 115 women completed a battery of questionnaires and kept a home dream diary for two to three consecutive weeks. Retrospective responses to the questionnaire indicate that approximately 33% of men and 40% of women recalled having experienced sensations of smell or taste in their dreams. A total of 3372 dream reports were collected and scored for unambiguous references to auditory, olfactory, and gustatory experiences. Auditory experiences were reported in approximately 53% of all dream reports. Olfactory and gustatory sensations occurred in approximately 1% of all dream reports. A significantly greater percentage of women than men reported one or more dreams containing references to olfactory sensations. The results lend support to previous studies which have shown that a variety of sensory experiences, although relatively rare, can occur in dreams.
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