Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Subconsciousness and No Awareness01:15

Subconsciousness and No Awareness

771
The concept of subconscious awareness refers to the processing of information below the level of conscious thought, which significantly influences both behaviors and decisions. It is also known as waking subconscious awareness. This complex level of cognition operates without the direct awareness of the individual, facilitating rapid and simultaneous handling of multiple information streams.
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...
771
Understanding Consciousness01:23

Understanding Consciousness

2.4K
Consciousness can be defined as the state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, sensations, and surroundings. It encompasses two major components: awareness and arousal. Awareness pertains to the recognition of environmental stimuli and internal states. At the same time, arousal refers to the physiological readiness to engage with these stimuli, which varies significantly between states like sleep and wakefulness.
Sleep, a crucial state, is characterized by reduced...
2.4K
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

869
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
869
Lucid Dreaming01:10

Lucid Dreaming

645
Lucid dreaming is a unique state of consciousness where an individual realizes they are dreaming while still in the dream. This awareness allows them to manipulate their dream environment consciously. Researchers like Stephen LaBerge have significantly contributed to the understanding of lucid dreams, highlighting that during these dreams, certain areas of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex, that involve self-awareness and thought evaluation show increased activity.
Studies have shown...
645
Stages of Sleep01:22

Stages of Sleep

1.6K
Sleep progresses through distinct stages, each characterized by specific brain wave patterns and physiological responses ranging from wakefulness to stages of non-rapid eye movement, known as non-REM, to rapid eye movement, referred to as REM. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how sleep supports various bodily and cognitive functions.
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
1.6K
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

3.2K
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
3.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Phenomenology of the stream of thought: dissociable dynamic dimensions revealed through experience sampling.

Neuroscience of consciousness·2026
Same author

Do individuals with disorders of consciousness dream and mind wander? Implications for improving diagnosis and understanding patient wellbeing.

Neuroscience of consciousness·2025
Same author

A dream EEG and mentation database.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

More dreams of the rarebit fiend: food sensitivity and dietary correlates of sleep and dreaming.

Frontiers in psychology·2025
Same author

Why AI will never be able to acquire human-level intelligence.

Nature·2025
Same author

New strategies for the cognitive science of dreaming.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 13, 2026

High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation During Sleep
09:23

High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation During Sleep

Published on: December 5, 2025

339

Does Consciousness Disappear in Dreamless Sleep?

Jennifer M Windt1, Tore Nielsen2, Evan Thompson3

  • 1Department of Philosophy, Monash University, Level 6, Menzies Building, Clayton Campus, 20 Chancellor's Walk, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|October 22, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Consciousness may persist during dreamless sleep, challenging common assumptions. This study proposes a new taxonomy and research methods to explore diverse sleep experiences beyond dreaming, impacting sleep science and consciousness research.

Keywords:
consciousnessdreamingmemorysleepsleep disordersslow-wave sleep

More Related Videos

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
08:58

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice

Published on: June 19, 2019

10.6K
Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice
10:56

Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice

Published on: August 2, 2017

10.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2026

High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation During Sleep
09:23

High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation During Sleep

Published on: December 5, 2025

339
Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
08:58

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice

Published on: June 19, 2019

10.6K
Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice
10:56

Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice

Published on: August 2, 2017

10.6K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sleep Science
  • Consciousness Studies

Background:

  • The prevailing view posits that consciousness ceases in deep, dreamless sleep.
  • This assumption is challenged by empirical and theoretical evidence suggesting otherwise.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To argue against the oversimplified view of consciousness disappearing in dreamless sleep.
  • To introduce a novel taxonomy for classifying distinct dreamless sleep experiences.
  • To propose research methodologies for investigating these experiences.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and theoretical argumentation.
  • Development of a new taxonomy for dreamless sleep experiences.
  • Proposal of empirical research strategies.

Main Results:

  • Identified that various sleep experiences, distinct from dreaming, can occur across all sleep stages.
  • Proposed a novel classification system for dreamless sleep states.
  • Outlined future research directions focusing on memory consolidation, sleep disorders, and sleep state misperception.

Conclusions:

  • The assumption of consciousness disappearing in dreamless sleep is an oversimplification.
  • New research avenues in sleep science, dream science, and the neuroscience of consciousness are suggested.
  • Findings can inform the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.