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

Dreaming01:30

Dreaming

464
Sigmund Freud revolutionized our understanding of dreams by proposing that they are a window into the unconscious mind. According to Freud, dreams are not mere stories our minds create while we sleep but are profoundly meaningful narratives about our hidden desires and fears. He introduced two key concepts: manifest content and latent content. The manifest content is the actual content and imagery of the dream — what we remember when we wake up. The latent content, however, represents the...
464
Lucid Dreaming01:10

Lucid Dreaming

523
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...
523
Stages of Sleep01:22

Stages of Sleep

1.3K
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...
1.3K
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

1.4K
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
1.4K
Nightmares and Night Terrors01:18

Nightmares and Night Terrors

472
Nightmares and night terrors represent two distinct types of sleep disturbances that differ in timing, characteristics, and the sleeper's recall of the event. Nightmares are vivid, disturbing dreams that usually awaken the sleeper from REM sleep, a stage of sleep where brain activity is high, and dreams are most frequent. Upon awakening, individuals often have detailed recollections of their nightmares, which can include themes of threats to survival, security, or self-esteem.
Nightmares...
472
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

2.7K
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:
2.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Sociodemographic and Health Factors Are Associated with Antimicrobial Resistance across Eight States in the United States.

Environmental science & technology·2026
Same author

Antibiotic Resistome Changes Associated with Different Types of Corrosion Inhibitors When Chlorine is Used as a Disinfectant.

ACS ES&T engineering·2025
Same author

Dream content influences daily spirituality.

Frontiers in psychology·2025
Same author

Attachment style and its impact on connection to God in individuals with brain injury: behavioral and lesion-based findings.

Frontiers in neurology·2025
Same author

Relationship and personality factors predict longitudinal changes in dream content.

Scientific reports·2025
Same author

A high-throughput platform for single-molecule tracking identifies drug interaction and cellular mechanisms.

eLife·2025
Same journal

Case Report: Subacute combined degeneration misdiagnosed as a primary affective disorder: diagnostic pitfalls and clinical red flags.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2026
Same journal

Virtual reality based attentional bias modification training for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: a feasibility study.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2026
Same journal

Job demands and resources in relation to burnout and educational coexistence among Chilean education workers.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2026
Same journal

Correction: Sleep characteristics and cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder: age-specific associations.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2026
Same journal

Systematic review of animal studies on the use of herbal medicine for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2026
Same journal

Alcohol and cannabis use severity in relation to compulsive sexual behavior and problematic pornography use in a non-clinical sample: a cross-sectional study.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System
05:59

Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System

Published on: October 20, 2023

3.0K

Prodromal dreams.

Patrick McNamara1,2

  • 1Department of Psychology, National University, San Diego, CA, United States.

Frontiers in Psychiatry
|September 15, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Prodromal dreams may predict illness onset before symptoms appear. This model suggests dreams, using metaphorical language, can diagnose emerging conditions and potentially offer treatment insights.

Keywords:
REM sleepdream contentinteroceptionprodromal dreamsthreat detection circuit

More Related Videos

Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings
06:39

Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings

Published on: June 13, 2025

434
Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

25.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System
05:59

Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System

Published on: October 20, 2023

3.0K
Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings
06:39

Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings

Published on: June 13, 2025

434
Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

25.2K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Interoceptive signals are integrated in brain networks active during REM sleep.
  • Bodily problems generate error signals, prompting the brain to infer causes for altered bodily perception.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a provisional model for prodromal dreams.
  • To explore dreams as potential early indicators of illness.

Main Methods:

  • Model development based on interoception, REM sleep, and predictive error processing.
  • Analysis of dream content for diagnostic and therapeutic information.

Main Results:

  • Dreams may depict the inferred causes of bodily distortions, offering diagnostic clues.
  • Dreams might also contain information related to potential solutions or treatments.

Conclusions:

  • Prodromal dreams offer a promising, though provisional, avenue for early illness detection.
  • Interpreting dream content could aid in diagnosing and potentially treating emerging health issues.