Beyond Dreaming: A Secret Communication Channel to Your Sleeping Self

When we think of sleep and dreams, we often imagine a state of sensory isolation and a mind that is fully disconnected. However, recent neuroscience research challenges that view. This semester, we had the opportunity to hear Dr. Gabriela Torres discuss a study by Konkoly et al. (2021). The main point was that the conscious mind in a dreaming state is not entirely sealed off. Instead, it might remain cognitively active and remarkably accessible.

This work is significant because it provides a method to overcome the problem of unreliable memory recall in dream research. Dr. Torres discusses how Konkoly et al.'s study overcame this barrier by achieving real-time, bidirectional communication with individuals undergoing lucid dreaming during REM sleep. They trained dreamers to use prearranged physiological signals (specific eye movements) and then asked them questions, receiving answers in real time while the dream was occurring. The success in tasks like arithmetic and perceptual discrimination demonstrated that high-level executive function is preserved during sleep, which completely changed our understading of a sleeper’s connection to the outside world.

Complementing this idea of a different kind of mental engagement is a 2019 study by Wang et al., published in The Journal of Neuroscience titled “Targeted Memory Reactivation during Sleep Elicits Neural Signals Related to Learning Content”. This research focused on Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR), a technique that pairs newly learned material with a subtle signal (sound) before sleep. By replaying that signal during NREM sleep, the researchers intended to guide the memory consolidation process. Their findings confirmed that these external signals successfully triggered brain activity patterns associated with the targeted memories, demonstrating that the sleeping brain can be selectively influenced to reinforce specific memories without the person being aware of it.

Taken together, these studies on REM dialogue and NREM memory contribute to a more advanced and unified understanding of sleep. The key conclusion is that the brain is accessible and responsive during major sleep stages. If we can unconsciously guide memory consolidation during NREM and consciously communicate with the mind during REM, future therapies could aim not only to passively study dreams but also to actively modulate them. Specifically, it is fascinating to explore and examine the potential application of these techniques to treat parasomnias. For instance, the application of the dialogue technique to study and treat nightmares and sleep paralysis by allowing real-time interaction during these dissociated REM states. As well as the application of NREM modulation of TMR to address the emotional disorders underlying conditions such as night terrors. These advances may create an entirely new therapeutic landscape. These advances may create an entirely new therapeutic landscape.

References:

Konkoly, Karen R., et al. “Real-time Dialogue Between Experimenters and Dreamers During REM Sleep.” Current Biology, vol. 31, no. 7, Feb. 2021, pp. 1417-1427.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.026.

Wang B, Antony JW, Lurie S, Brooks PP, Paller KA, Norman KA. Targeted Memory Reactivation during Sleep Elicits Neural Signals Related to Learning Content. J Neurosci. 2019 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.026