Dormio: A targeted dream incubation device - PubMed (original) (raw)

Dormio: A targeted dream incubation device

Adam Haar Horowitz et al. Conscious Cogn. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Information processing during sleep is active, ongoing and accessible to engineering. Protocols such as targeted memory reactivation use sensory stimuli during sleep to reactivate memories and demonstrate subsequent, specific enhancement of their consolidation. These protocols rely on physiological, as opposed to phenomenological, evidence of their reactivation. While dream content can predict post-sleep memory enhancement, dreaming itself remains a black box. Here, we present a novel protocol using a new wearable electronic device, Dormio, to automatically generate serial auditory dream incubations at sleep onset, wherein targeted information is repeatedly presented during the hypnagogic period, enabling direct incorporation of this information into dream content, a process we call targeted dream incubation (TDI). Along with validation data, we discuss how Dormio and TDI protocols can serve as tools for controlled experimentation on dream content, shedding light on the role of dreams in the overnight transformation of experiences into memories.

Keywords: Creativity; Devices; Dreams; Electronics; Incubation; Memory; Sleep onset; Wearables.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no conflicts of interest

Figures

Figure 1:

Figure 1:

Schematic of typical use of Dormio to elicit sleep onset hypnagogia and dreaming.

Figure 2:

Figure 2:

The Dormio system, in use. Image by Oscar Rosello.

Figure 3.

Figure 3.

The percent of direct references to ‘Tree’ in verbal reports, averaged across participants.

Figure 4.

Figure 4.

Distributions in absolute change in HR, Flex and EDA. Measurements are from prior to beginning to try to sleep and first automated “awaken” with a subjective report of having in fact been asleep (left, blue) and the first with a report of actually having been awake (right, red). Blue dotted lines denote the 80th percentile of ‘Sleep’ awakenings, and hence above which ‘Awake’ is a likely report. Red dotted lines denote the 20th percentile of ‘Sleep’ awakenings, above which participants are likely to report having been ‘Asleep’. (a) Change in heart rate between Dormio-defined sleep onset and first awakening. HR Mean Sleep: −2.89 ± 22.94. HR Mean Wake: 10.01 ± 18.7. 80% of Sleep reports below 6, 80% of Wake reports above −2. (b) Delta in FDP muscle flexion between Dormio-defined sleep onset and first awakening. Flex Mean Sleep: −6.74 ± 9.05. Flex Mean Wake: −3.42 ± 6.32. 80% of Sleep reports below −4, 80% of Wake reports above −6. (c). Delta in electrodermal activity between Dormio-defined sleep onset and first awakening. EDA Mean Sleep: −4.88 ± 13.44. EDA Mean Wake: 3.36 ± 8.64. 80% of Sleep reports below 5, 80% of Wake reports above −1.

Figure 5.

Figure 5.

Experimental design of future study of TDI and sleep-dependent memory consolidation (SDC)

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