Neurophysiological features of dream recall and the phenomenology of dreams: Auditory stimulation impacts dream experiences.
Gulshan Kumar, Safoora Naaz, Nahida Jabin, Arun Sasidharan, Ravindra P Nagendra, Ravi Yadav, Bindu M Kutty
Consciousness and cognition July 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2025.103869 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractDream recall is more frequent after REM sleep than N2 sleep. During dream recall, EEG beta activity increases, functional connectivity within the default mode network strengthens, and the medial frontal cortex activates, regardless of sleep stage. Auditory stimulation during sleep can influence the emotional content of dreams, suggesting that targeted memory reactivation may be possible. These findings help clarify how conscious experience arises during sleep.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 29 |
| Population | Healthy young participants with high dream recall abilities |
| Interventions | audiovisual task auditory stimuli |
| Duration | Two nights of polysomnography with multiple awakening protocol on the second night and auditory stimuli presentation on the third night |
| Topics | Default mode network Dreaming |
| Keywords | Beta activity Dream experience Target memory reactivation |
| Key finding | REM sleep dreams yield higher recall rates than N2 dreams, and dream recall is associated with enhanced EEG beta activity, DMN connectivity, and medial frontal cortex activation. |
Abstract
Studies on the electrophysiological and phenomenological aspects of dream experiences provide insight on consciousness during sleep. Whole night polysomnography (PSG) studies were conducted among 29 healthy young participants with high dream recall abilities. Dreams reports were collected during the second night by multiple awakening protocol. On the third night, participants were presented with an audiovisual task and during subsequent sleep, dream reports were collected following an auditory stimuli presentation. REM sleep dreams favor high dream recall rates when compared to N2 dreams. Enhanced EEG beta activity, functional connectivity across the brain structures of the default mode network (DMN) and activation of medial frontal cortex were observed during dream recall irrespective of the sleep states. Auditory stimulations influenced emotional dream experiences highlighting the possibility of target memory reactivation. The study highlights the potential role of dream states and dream experiences in understanding consciousness during sleep.