Neurophysiological features of dream recall and the phenomenology of dreams: Auditory stimulation impacts dream experiences.
Consciousness and cognition – July 01, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Sound can shape our dreams! Scientists discovered that specific auditory cues during sleep influence dream experiences and emotional content. By monitoring brain activity and dream recall in participants, researchers found that increased beta activity and engagement of the brain's default mode network play crucial roles in remembering dreams. Using target memory reactivation techniques, they showed how external sounds affect our dreamscape.
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.