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ABSTRACT

The Effects Of Alterations In Waking On Reported Dream Recall - Daytime Sleepiness And Sleep Onset Rems Periods (Sorp's)

J.F. Pagel & Phyllis Myers

            Few variables are known to consistently alter dream recall. Sleep stage before awakening from sleep is the primary variable altering reported recall of sleep associated mentation (dreams). Personality, age, gender and RDI have been shown to have inconsistent effects (1,2).  It has been proposed that waking is not one state,  but a series of states with at least as much variability as the various stages of sleep (3).  One of the few assessments routinely made of the waking state is the study of daytime sleepiness done by use of the Multiple Sleep Latency Testing (MSLT).  The MSLT is utilized clinically  in this sleep laboratory as a clinical test for Narcolepsy, and to access an individual’s level of daytime sleepiness.  Individuals with Narcolepsy generally show severe daytime sleepiness and at least two SORP’s in the four or five 20 minute naps which comprise the MSLT.  Daytime sleepiness is generally rated: (< 5 min. = severe, 5-10 min. = moderate, 10-15 min.= mild).

            The authors hypothesize that both these variables (SORP and daytime sleepiness) will alter reported dream recall. Individuals with SORP are likely to have increased dream recall.  A non-absolute correlation exists between REMS and dreaming, and alterations in dreaming are frequently reported in narcoleptic patients (hypnogognic halluciantions and sleep paralysis).  Daytime sleepiness is postulated to have a negative effect on the integration of dreaming into waking thought as accessed by reported  dream recall.

Reported dream recall was obtained by use of Dreamuse  questionnaire used in multiple other studies, and part of the routine intake of 56 individuals undergoing polysomnography (PSG) and MSLT in this sleep laboratory.  RDI was obtained from the PSG (no significant variability in RDI exists between groupings).  Results are analyzed based on six clinical groupings based on degree of daytime sleepiness and the presence on absence of SORP(Table 1). 

Table 1

                Significant variability in reported recall was present between the groupings large enough to permit reasonable statistical analysis.   Obviously more data needs to be collected, particularly to explain the non-statistically significant, but inconsistent findings from Groups (5 & 6). Dream use (Dream Effects of Awake Behavior) did not significantly vary between groupings.

The significant variation in reported dream recall between groupings supports the authors’ hypotheses. Severe sleepiness can be shown to suppress reported dream recall in individuals without SORP.  In individuals with the REMS pressure associated with SORP’s, dream recall is higher despite the presence of severe daytime sleepiness.  Reported dream recall could be used to differentiate sleepy individuals with SORP’s from those without SORP’s.  Decreased dream recall may be a marker for daytime sleepiness.

(1)     Strauch I., Meier B.(1996) In Search of Dreams: Results of Experimental Dream Research, SUNY Press, NY, NY.

(2)     Pagel J. Vann B (1995) Polysomnographic Correlates of Reported Dreaming, APSS Abstracts.

(3)     Hartmann E. (1998) Dreams and Nightmares: The New Theory on the Origin and Meaning of Dreams, Plenum Trade, NY.