Representation of Self in SWS and REM Dreams

A present the rigid dichotomy between REM and NREM mental activity has been superseded by empirical evidence that the dreaming occurs continuously throughout sleep (1,2). Many experimental studies have showed oneiric mental production in Sleep Onset (SO), Stage 2 (St.2) and Slow Wave Sleep (SWS), which is not predicted by the REM/NREM sleep dichotomy (3-7). Furthermore experimental data support the hypothesis that cognitive processes involved in dream generation could be the same in the different sleep stages. In fact, from the comparisons between REM and NREM dream reports only one difference emerges constantly: REM dream reports are longer than NREM ones. The most qualitative differences disappeared in length-matched comparison so that qualitative differences between REM and NREM dream reports Representation of Self in SWS and REM Dreams