The electrophysiological correlates of dream recall and nonrecall from stage 2 sleep

This research examined the relationship between cortical activation, defined by electroencephalographic (EEG) measures, and the ability to recall dreams following awakenings from Stage 2 sleep. Period-analyzed EEG data from 40 subjects were examined for the preawakening, postawakening, and preawakening-to-postawakening time intervals. Recall differed from nonrecall at the postawakening and preawakening-to-postawakening periods on measures of muscle activity and time spent in the sigma (12-16 Hz) frequency band. There were no distinctions in recall ability on EEG hemispheric asymmetry measures. Generally, the findings do not support the hypothesis linking increased recall ability to increases in cortical activation prior to awakening. However, the recall groups depicted a different pattern of arousal in their transition from sleep to wakefulness.