High Dream Recall Frequency is Associated with Increased Creativity and Default Mode Network Connectivity

Abstract

Introduction Several results suggest that the frequency of dream recall is positively correlated with personality traits such as creativity and openness to experience. In addition, neuroimaging results have evidenced different neurophysiological profiles in high dream recallers (HR) and low dream recallers (LR) during both sleep and wakefulness, specifically within regions of the default mode network (DMN). These findings are consistent with the emerging view that dreaming and mind wandering pertain to the same family of spontaneous mental processes, subserved by the DMN. Methods To further test this hypothesis, we measured the DMN functional connectivity during resting wakefulness, together with personality and cognitive abilities (including creativity) in 28 HR and 27 LR. Results As expected, HR demonstrated a greater DMN connectivity than LR, higher scores of creativity, and no significant difference in memory abilities. However, there was no significant correlation between creativity scores and DMN connectivity. Discussion These results further demonstrate that there are trait neurophysiological and psychological differences between individuals who frequently recall their dreams and those who do not. They support the forebrain and the DMN hypotheses of dreaming and leave open the possibility that increased activity in the DMN promotes creative-thinking during both wakefulness and sleep. Further work is needed to test whether activity in the DMN is causally associated with creative-thinking.

Default mode network spatio-temporal electrophysiological signature and causal role in creativity

“…In contrast, mind wandering displayed a weak response in the early task stage and a very strong effect during the later response production stage, when the participant is asked to recollect out loud their train of thoughts (Figure 3C). Given previous findings (Kajimura et al 2016, Vallat et al 2022 of DMN involvement in mind wandering, the relatively lower DMN recruitment during the MW stimulus period is surprising: the stimulus period of the MW task is the phase during which the actual process of "mind wandering" occurs -during the response window, the thoughts are merely reported, and this response more likely represents episodic memory related DMN activation. However, during the stimulus period, mind wandering was not entirely spontaneous, as participants were also actively viewing a colorful shape -perhaps the stimulus acted as a "distraction" from the mind wandering aspect, drawing the participants' attention and making it harder for them to detach from the visual stimulus and allow for spontaneous thought to take over.…”

Dream Recall Frequency, Lucid Dream Frequency, and Personality During the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…This link might be explained by behavioral factors, e.g., as persons with higher openness to experience scores tend to read more likely magazine articles about dreams and dream interpretation ( Schredl, 2011 ; Schredl & Göritz, 2020 ), share dreams more often ( Graf et al, 2021 ; Schredl et al, 2016a ) and, thus, are more focused on the topic; which increases dream recall ( Schredl, 2018 ). On the other hand, there might be also neurophysiological links as the personality trait of openness to experience is related to increased default mode network connectivity ( Beaty et al, 2016 ) as is dream recall frequency ( Vallat et al, 2022 ). It would be interesting to study these possible links in future studies by combining neurophysiological measures and psychological measures within one sample.…”

“…In representative studies ( Schredl, 2008 , 2009 ), the mean dream recall is once per week. A wide variety of factors affect intra-individual fluctuations, and inter-individual differences in dream recall, for example, sleep duration ( Schredl & Fulda, 2005 ), nocturnal awakenings ( Schredl et al, 1998 ), default mode network connectivity ( Vallat et al, 2022 ), personality dimensions such as absorption ( Beaulieu-Prevost & Zadra, 2007 ), boundary thinness ( Hartmann, 1989 ), and openness to experience ( Schredl & Göritz, 2017 ). Even though comprehensive models of dream recall have been proposed ( Schredl, 2018 ), Schonbar (1965) has put forward a very specific theoretical framework, the so-called “life-style hypothesis of dream recall”, to explain stable inter-individual differences in dream recall frequency, that is, persons with high introspection, who are interested in psychological topics, vivid imagination tend to recall dreams more often.…”

Диагностические Возможности Анализа Сновидений: Теоретические Предпосылки И Методические Подходы

“…Отсутствие связи с окружающей средой во время сна связывают с изменением активности дефолтной системы, которая наряду с сенсомоторной и зрительной корой является вероятным коррелятом сновидений (Domhoff & Fox, 2015;Vallat, Nicolas & Ruby 2022). Результаты ПЭТ и МРТ-исследований показали, что медиальная префронтальная кора -часть дефолтной системы -в большей степени активна в быструю фазу сна, чем в состоянии спокойного бодрствования (Hong et al, 2018;Scarpelli, Bartolacci, D'Atri, Gorgoni & De Gennaro, 2021;Hong et al, 2021), но в то же время активность других структур дефолтной системы (поясной извилины, теменной области коры) снижаются во время быстрого сна (Miyauchi et al, 2009;Hong et al, 2018;Hoel, 2021;Rué-Queralt et al, 2021).…”