Mentation during sleep: REM and NREM recall reports.

Abstract

In the present study, the investigators alternated as experimental Ss, and dreaming was defined in terms which more closely approximate the general usage of the word. Rapid eye movement (REM) period awakenings produced a high percentage (81) of dream recall, whereas dream reports were infrequent (7%) following non-REM (NREM) period awakenings. Most of the NREM dream reports were obtained from Stage 2 and 3 awakenings in the last half of the night, in contrast to awakenings during the first half of the night when Stages 3 and 4 predominate. The study suggests that the motivation of S, definition of a dream, and time of night are factors strongly influencing the degree of NREM recall. The few NREM dream reports elicited were less elaborate and extensive than the usual REM dream recall.