Dement and Kleitman Study on Sleep and Dreaming

A collection of flashcards covering key concepts from the Dement and Kleitman study on sleep and dreaming.

What invention allowed for scientific measurement of sleep and dreaming?

The electro-encephalograph (EEG) and the electro-oculogram (EOG).

What does EEG stand for?

Electroencephalogram.

What physiological technique measures eye movements during sleep?

Electro-oculogram (EOG).

What stage of sleep is associated with rapid eye movements?

REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement sleep).

How many stages are there in NREM sleep?

Four stages.

What is the primary aim of Dement and Kleitman's 1957 study?

To investigate the relationship between eye movements during sleep and dream recall.

What is one specific aim of the study related to dream recall?

To test whether dream recall differs between REM and NREM sleep.

What sleep stage were participants woken from to report dreams?

Participants were woken from either REM or NREM sleep.

What did participants describe after being awoken during the study?

The content of their dreams.

What percentage of accuracy did participants show when estimating the duration of REM sleep?

88% for 5 minutes and 78% for 15 minutes.

What does the dream recall during NREM sleep usually involve?

Feelings rather than specific dream content.

What characterizes paradoxical sleep?

Both brain activity resembling wakefulness and difficulty waking the individual.

What is one finding related to dream narratives of varying duration?

Dream narratives for longer REM periods may not be much longer than those for 15 minutes.

How were participants monitored during the study?

With electrodes to record eye movements and brain waves via EEG.

What type of research design was used in the first study?

Natural experiment conducted in a laboratory.

How many adult participants were in the Dement and Kleitman study?

Nine adult participants (seven male and two female).

What is one weakness of the study related to ecological validity?

Participants slept in an unusual laboratory environment with electrodes, which may affect natural sleep.

What is one strength of using a standardized procedure in this study?

It allows for replication of the study for testing reliability.

Why is it important that participants reported their dreams into a voice recorder?

To obtain a more accurate and detailed account of dream content.

What was the common environmental factor affecting participants' sleep in the study?

The unnatural laboratory setting with the presence of monitoring equipment.

What does the term 'reductionism' refer to in this study's evaluation?

Focusing only on biological mechanisms affecting dreaming, potentially overlooking psychological factors.

What did participants do after describing their dreams?

They typically returned to sleep within about 5 minutes.

What significant correlation was found in Study 2?

Between REM duration and the number of words in the dream narrative.

What does a positive correlation between subjective estimates of dream duration suggest?

Dreams are experienced in 'real time' rather than instantaneously.

What were participants instructed to listen for during the study?

A doorbell that would wake them from sleep.

How did the study handle participant confidentiality?

By using only their initials when publishing data.

What were some ethical concerns regarding participant protection?

Altered normal sleep patterns and potential impact on post-study concentration.

What individual differences were noted among participants regarding dream recall?

Some participants had more accurate dream recall or experienced unusual sleep disturbances.

What does the study say about the nature-nurture debate in relation to dreaming?

It indicates that dreaming during REM sleep may be a universal experience, leaning towards nature, but acknowledges individual differences.