Dement and Kleitman Flashcards
What was the aim of the study by Dement and Kleitman (1957)?
To investigate the relationship between eye movements and dreaming, specifically:
* Does dream recall differ between REM and NREM stages of sleep?
* Is there a positive correlation between estimated dream duration and REM period length?
* Are eye movements related to the dream content?
The study aimed to explore how different sleep stages impact dream recall and the nature of dreams.
What is the research hypothesis of the study?
- There will be a significant association between REM sleep and dreaming.
- There will be a positive correlation between estimated dream duration and REM period length.
- There will be a significant association between eye movement patterns and dream content.
These hypotheses guided the investigation of the relationship between sleep stages and dream characteristics.
What psychometrics were used in the study?
EEG (electroencephalogram) and EOG (electrooculogram).
EEG traces brain activity during sleep, while EOG traces eye movements.
What does REM stand for, and when does dreaming occur?
Rapid Eye Movement; dreaming occurs during REM sleep.
NREM stands for Non-Rapid Eye Movement.
What did Aserinsky (1955) reveal about REM sleep?
Participants woken from REM sleep were more likely to report vivid, visual dreams than those woken from NREM sleep.
Aserinsky’s work established the importance of REM sleep in dream recall.
What type of research method was used in the study?
A laboratory experiment with different methods to test each aim.
The study utilized a mix of natural and true experiments.
What was the sample size in the study?
7 males and 2 females were recruited through opportunity sampling.
5 participants were studied in detail, while 4 were used to confirm the results.
What factors were controlled in the study’s procedure?
Participants avoided caffeine and alcohol on the day of the study and slept in a dark, quiet room.
These controls helped standardize the conditions for sleep.
What was the average REM sleep duration reported in the study?
The average REM length was 20 minutes, with a range of 3 to 50 minutes.
This duration varied throughout the night.
What percentage of dreams were recalled from REM and NREM awakenings?
79.6% from REM and 7% from NREM.
This highlights the significant difference in dream recall based on sleep stage.
What was the correlation between estimated REM duration and actual dream recall?
There was a positive correlation between REM duration and words in the recall.
This indicates that dream duration is perceived accurately by participants.
What types of eye movement were identified in relation to dream content?
Vertical eye movement, horizontal eye movement, and little or no movement.
Each type correlated with specific dream scenarios.
What conclusions were drawn about dreams in the study?
Dreams occur during REM sleep only; estimated dream duration and REM period lengths are similar; eye movements correspond to dream content.
These conclusions emphasize the nature of dreams being tied to REM sleep.
What are some strengths of the study?
High reliability, validity, and collection of both quantitative and qualitative data.
Controls like the doorbell minimized recall bias and demand characteristics.
What are some weaknesses of the study?
Small sample size limits generalizability; potential deception causing distress; lacks ecological validity.
The unusual lab setting may affect natural sleep behavior.
How does the study relate to the nature vs. nurture debate?
Dream content relates to experience (nurture), while the ability to dream is a product of nature.
This reflects the complex interplay between biological and experiential factors in dreaming.
