Memory reactivations during sleep: a neural basis of dream experiences?

Using visual dream reports in art therapy to reconsolidate emotional memories.

“…A review about memory reactivation during sleep shows that “as observed for memory reactivations, dreams preferentially incorporate novel, emotionally intense, and personally meaningful experiences” (Picard-Deland et al, 2023, p. 572). Rapid eye movement sleep and dreams may play a role in EM processing (Landmann et al, 2015; Levin & Nielsen, 2007), implicit memory consolidation (Wamsley & Stickgold, 2019), and memory reconsolidation (Zhao et al, 2018).…”

Dreaming Characteristics in Non-Rapid Eye Movement Parasomnia and Idiopathic Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behaviour Disorder: Similarities and Differences

“…However, its function remains unclear with some linking it to the reactivation of vivid visuospatial mental pictures of specific emotional valence or to the reprocessing of emotional memories during sleep. 12 , 13 Moreover, a body of work suggests that during sleep, an active systems’ consolidation process, embedded in global synaptic downscaling, may present the mechanistic platform for the formation of long-term memory. 14 For instance, it has been proposed that during NREM slow-wave sleep, recurrent hippocampal neuronal-replays lead to the gradual transformation and integration of representations in neocortical networks.…”

“… 11–13 Excessive daytime sleepiness is frequently reported by NREM parasomnia sufferers, as well as lower threshold for pain and poorer quality of life. 9 , 13 …”

“…1 Patients can injure themselves during acted out NREM events, and they can endanger themselves and others. [11][12][13] Excessive daytime sleepiness is frequently reported by NREM parasomnia sufferers, as well as lower threshold for pain and poorer quality of life. 9,13 Understanding how basic physiological components of sleep may contribute to the genesis of dreams will be pivotal for future translational clinical purposes.…”

Differential brain activation during dream versus story recognition in the medial prefrontal cortex: An event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

“…Even the simplest response decisions in such settings are strongly influenced by emotion (Coricelli et al, 2007; Mériau et al, 2006). Therefore, our theoretical assumption was that in the very moment (milliseconds) of recognition of previously learned dream stimuli (“dream words”), both qualitative-emotional aspects and the basic neurophysiology of the experienced encoding state are simultaneously reactivated (Picard-Deland et al, 2023). This assumption is supported by studies in the modalities: auditory (Nyberg et al, 2000), enactment (Russ et al, 2003), odor (Gottfried & Smith, 2004; Knoetzele et al, 2023), smell (Khamsi, 2022), emotion (Erk et al, 2005), faces (Dahlén et al, 2022; Martínez-Galindo & Cansino, 2015; Skinner et al, 2010), motion (Skordos et al, 2019), stress (Bierbrauer et al, 2021), crime (Peth et al, 2015), awareness (Smith, 2012), objects (Grill-Spector et al, 2000; Winters et al, 2008), and subliminal stimulation (Winkielman et al, 2005).…”