title: Circadian and ultradian influences on dreaming: a dual rhythm model.
abstract: The dual rhythm model of dreaming states that, under high sensory thresholds, heightened general cortical activation common to both REM/NREM and circadian-driven activation cycles sums to produce the main characteristics of dreaming. In addition, the unique pattern of regional brain activation characteristic of REM sleep amplifies the emotional intensity of the dream. Subjects were awakened from REM and NREM sleep once near the nadir of the core body temperature rhythm, where circadian-driven cortical activation was assumed to be low, and again in the late morning, where this activation was presumed to be high. As predicted, changes in the central characteristics of dream reports mirrored REM/NREM and circadian-driven fluctuations in general activation, while at the same time, the regional activation pattern unique to REM sleep amplified dream emotionality selectively in REM reports.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Subprogram in Cognitive Neuroscience, The CUNY Graduate Center at City College, New York, NY 10031, USA. ewamsley@gc.cuny.edu
authors.forename: Erin J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Wamsley
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirota
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Antrobus
mesh_terms: D000204:Activity Cycles / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004325:Dreams / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D004585:Electrooculography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008959:Models, Neurological; D015588:Observer Variation; D011340:Problem Solving; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology; D013060:Speech