Phenomenological features of dreams: Results from dream log studies using the Subjective Experiences Rating Scale (SERS)

Kahan, Tracey L.; Claudatos, Stephanie

doi:10.1016/j.concog.2016.02.007

Cited by 26 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…It must be acknowledged here that, according to some authors [ 44 , 63 , 64 ], self-ratings of dream emotions based on emotion rating scales may be biased by demand characteristics of the rating task (i.e., individuals may be primed by answer options) or phenomena such as the positivity offset (i.e., the tendency to experience mildly positive mood most of the time [ 65 ]); still, several authors argue that self-ratings more validly represent dream emotional experiences [ 39 , 66 , 67 ]; see also [ 44 ] for an extensive discussion of pros and cons of self- and external dream emotion ratings). In any case, as shown by Sikka et al [ 43 , 44 , 51 ], the mDES may also be usefully employed by external judges as a wide checklist of emotional categories to classify emotions in dream reports.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between Dream and Previous Wake Emotions Assessed through the Italian Modified Differential Emotions Scale

et al. 2020

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Despite the increasing interest in sleep and dream-related processes of emotion regulation, their reflection into wake and dream emotional experience remains unclear. Here, we aimed to assess dream emotions and their relationships with wake emotions through the modified Differential Emotions Scale (Fredrickson, 2003), which includes a broad array of both positive and negative emotions. The scale has been first validated on 212 healthy Italian participants, in two versions: a WAKE-2wks form, assessing the frequency of 22 emotions over the past 2 weeks, and a WAKE-24hr form, assessing their intensity over the past 24 h. Fifty volunteers from the wider sample completed the WAKE-24hr mDES for several days until a dream was recalled, and dream emotions were self-reported using the same scale. A bifactorial structure was confirmed for both mDES forms, which also showed good validity and reliability. Though Positive and Negative Affect (average intensity of positive and negative items, PA, and NA, respectively) were balanced in dreams, specific negative emotions prevailed; rmANOVA showed a different pattern (prevalence of PA and positive emotions) in wake (both WAKE-2wks and WAKE-24hr), with a decrease of PA and an increase of NA in the dream compared to previous wake. No significant regression model emerged between waking and dream affect, and exploratory analyses revealed a stable proportion of PA and NA (with prevailing PA) over the 3 days preceding the dream. Our findings highlight a discontinuity between wake and dream affect and suggest that positive and negative emotions experienced during wake may undertake distinct sleep-related regulation pathways.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between Dream and Previous Wake Emotions Assessed through the Italian Modified Differential Emotions Scale

et al. 2020

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“…1). For that, we used the Subjective Experiences Rating Scale (SERS 40 ) as well as a set of visual analog scales that measure subjective perception of stress (VAS 41 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dichotic listening performance and interhemispheric integration after stress exposure

Berretz

Packheiser

Wolf

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Functional hemispheric asymmetries (FHAs) have been thought to be relatively stable over time. However, past research has shown that FHAs are more plastic than initially thought. Endocrinological processes have been demonstrated to alter FHAs. As the product of the stress-activated hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis, cortisol influences information processing at every level from stimulus perception to decision making and action. To investigate the influence of acute stress on FHAs, 60 participants performed a Banich–Belger task, as well as a verbal and an emotional dichotic listening task in two sessions. One session included a stress induction via the Trier Social Stress Test, the other session included a control procedure. We calculated across-field advantages (AFAs) in the Banich–Belger task and lateralization quotients for reaction times and responses per side in both dichotic listening tasks. There were no significant differences between the stress and control session in the dichotic listening tasks. In contrast, there was evidence for an influence of cortisol and sympathetic activation indicated by salivary alpha amylase changes on AFAs in the Banich–Belger task. This indicates that acute stress and the related increase in cortisol do not influence dichotic listening performance. However, stress does seem to affect interhemispheric integration of information. Future research using EEG, fMRI and pharmacological interventions is needed to further characterize the relation of hemispheric asymmetries and acute stress.

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“…As noted above, reports of mental activity during both REM [ 9 ] and NREM sleep [ 10 ] may contain references to various sensory experiences, most commonly (audio)visual [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. In contrast, MSEs with a chemosensory (olfactory or gustatory) component seem considerably less frequent, as Supplementary Table S1 suggests.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Olfaction-Related Factors Affecting Chemosensory Dream Content in a Sleep Laboratory

et al. 2021

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Mental activity in sleep often involves visual and auditory content. Chemosensory (olfactory and gustatory) experiences are less common and underexplored. The aim of the study was to identify olfaction-related factors that may affect the occurrence of chemosensory dream content. Specifically, we investigated the effects of all-night exposure to an ambient odour, participants’ appraisal of their current olfactory environment, their general propensity to notice odours and act on them (i.e., odour awareness), and their olfactory acuity. Sixty pre-screened healthy young adults underwent olfactory assessment, completed a measure of odour awareness, and spent three nights in weekly intervals in a sleep laboratory. The purpose of the first visit was to adapt to the experimental setting. On the second visit, half of them were exposed to the smell of vanillin or thioglycolic acid and the other half to an odourless control condition. On the third visit, they received control or stimulation in a balanced order. On each visit, data were collected twice: once from the first rapid eye movement (REM) stage that occurred after 3 a.m., and then shortly before getting up, usually from a non-REM stage. Participants were asked to report the presence of sensory dream content and to assess their current olfactory environment. Neither exposure, nor participants’ assessments of the ambient odour, or olfactory acuity affected reports of chemosensory dream content but they were more frequent in individuals with greater odour awareness. This finding may have implications for treatment when such experiences become unwanted or bothersome.

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Phenomenological features of dreams: Results from dream log studies using the Subjective Experiences Rating Scale (SERS)

Cited by 26 publications

References 95 publications

Relationships between Dream and Previous Wake Emotions Assessed through the Italian Modified Differential Emotions Scale

Relationships between Dream and Previous Wake Emotions Assessed through the Italian Modified Differential Emotions Scale

Dichotic listening performance and interhemispheric integration after stress exposure

Olfaction-Related Factors Affecting Chemosensory Dream Content in a Sleep Laboratory

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