ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM AND RAPID EYE MOVEMENTS DURING FREE IMAGERY AND DREAM RECALL

Monitored electrooculogram, EEG, EMG, and heart rate of 10 male undergraduates under a visual imagery condition (free imagery) and a dream recall condition. Only the dream recall condition was associated with alpha desynchronization. The imagery of the dream recall condition was characterized by more primary process, more kinetic imagery, more frequent episodes of imagery, longer duration of images, and greater heart rate. Both conditions were associated with an equal increase in REMs, which were more characteristic of the waking state than those observed during nocturnal dreams. The differences between the conditions are discussed in terms of the nature of the tasks involved and the evidence of primary process regulation of the imagery in the dream recall condition. (28 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.