Dream 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.
Rhythmic sound meditation (RSM) reduces EEG power across all frequency bands—delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma—particularly in prefrontal and frontocentral brain regions, compared to a resting state. Subjective alertness increased after RSM, with 93.3% of participants reporting alertness, versus 73.3% after resting. The findings suggest that RSM induces distinct neurophysiological changes characterized by widespread EEG power suppression in frontal areas and heightened subjective alertness, supporting its potential for promoting altered states of consciousness.