Abstract
Recent findings indicate that dream recall frequency (DRF) is associated with neurophysiological traits, and notably the regional cerebral blood flow at rest within the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ). To test whether, such physiological traits are rooted in anatomical specificities, we used voxel-based morphometry to compare the white matter and gray matter density in regions related to dream recall (either at the experimental or theoretical level, MPFC, TPJ, hippocampus and amygdala) between 46 high dream recallers (HR, DRF = 5.98 ± 1.25 days per week with a dream report) and 46 low dream recallers (LR, DRF = 0.34 ± 0.29). We found an increased medial prefrontal cortex white-matter density in HR compared to LR but no other significant difference between the two groups. These results are consistent with previous studies showing that lesions within the white matter of medial prefrontal cortex are associated with a partial or total cessation of dream reporting and suggest an implication of this region in dream recall or, more likely, in dream production.
Highlights
While dreaming has long been considered as the cognitive correlate of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, it is well established that dreaming can occur in any sleep stage and is not exclusive to a specific sleep stage (Solms, 2000; Nir and Tononi, 2010; Ruby, 2011; Montangero, 2018)
This study intended to test whether an increased dream recall frequency (DRF) in high dream recallers (HR) could be associated with gray- or white- matter density specificities in brain regions previously associated with dream recall and/or production, namely the amygdala, hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and temporo-parietal junction (TPJ)
voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analyses of the anatomical scans of 44 HR and 44 low dream recallers (LR) revealed a significant difference between the two groups in the white matter of the MPFC
Summary
While dreaming has long been considered as the cognitive correlate of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, it is well established that dreaming can occur in any sleep stage and is not exclusive to a specific sleep stage (Solms, 2000; Nir and Tononi, 2010; Ruby, 2011; Montangero, 2018). We intended to further test the possible association between brain anatomical structures and dream report frequency.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
