Sleep and Dreams: Dement And Kleitman AS/A Level Psychology

Summary

The Dement & Kleitman study, conducted in 1957, investigates the relationship between sleep, dreaming, and eye movement. Using EEGs, the study examines whether dreaming occurs during REM or NREM sleep, the accuracy of dream length estimation, the correlation between eye movements and dream content, and the link between REM duration and dream length. Results support the idea that dreaming primarily occurs during REM sleep, dreams unfold in real-time, and eye movements correspond to dream actions. While the study provides valuable insights, its small sample size and artificial lab setting limit generalizability.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Dement and Kleitman study investigates the relationship between sleep stages (REM vs. NREM) and dreaming.
• 😀 The study is part of the biological approach in psychology, which emphasizes the biological causes of behavior and thought processes.
• 😀 The research used a natural experiment with EEGs and other scientific apparatus to measure brain waves and eye movements.
• 😀 Participants in the study were asked to avoid alcohol and caffeine before the sleep sessions to maintain natural sleep cycles.
• 😀 One of the study's aims was to determine if dreams occur during REM sleep, NREM sleep, or both.
• 😀 Another aim was to assess whether participants could accurately estimate how long they had been dreaming.
• 😀 The third aim explored whether eye movements during sleep corresponded with the content of dreams.
• 😀 A fourth aim investigated whether the length of REM sleep correlated with the number of words used to describe dreams.
• 😀 Results showed that dreaming mostly occurred during REM sleep, with few dreams recalled during NREM sleep.
• 😀 Eye movements during REM sleep corresponded to specific actions in the dream content, such as climbing or looking around.
• 😀 The study found a positive correlation between the length of REM sleep and the number of words participants used to describe their dreams.
• 😀 The study's strengths include its use of reliable scientific equipment and well-controlled procedures, though the small sample size may limit generalizability.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the Dement and Kleitman study?

The study investigates the relationship between sleep and dreams, specifically exploring whether dreaming occurs during REM or NREM sleep, whether participants can accurately estimate the length of their dreams, and if eye movement patterns match dream content.

What is the biological approach in psychology?

The biological approach assumes that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors have biological causes, which can be studied physiologically through methods like brain scans and measurements of genetics and hormones.

How does the biological approach view all humans regardless of ethnicity and culture?

The biological approach assumes that all people function the same physiologically, meaning that physiological processes, such as sleep and dreaming, can be measured and analyzed using machines like EEGs and fMRI scanners, regardless of cultural or ethnic differences.

What were the three main aims of the Dement and Kleitman study?

The three main aims were to determine if dreaming occurs during REM or NREM sleep, if participants can accurately estimate the length of their dreams, and whether eye movement patterns correspond to dream content.

What was the method used in the study?

The study was a natural experiment, conducted in a laboratory setting, using EEG machines to measure brain waves and eye movements, alongside self-reports from participants. The data were gathered through observation, EEG records, and interviews with participants after they woke.

What was the sample size in the study?

The study involved nine participants, consisting of seven adult males and two adult females. However, two participants withdrew after one night, and another two dropped out after two nights.

What kind of data did the Dement and Kleitman study collect?

The study collected both quantitative data (such as EEG recordings, dream recall frequency, and dream length estimations) and qualitative data (such as descriptions of dreams provided by participants).

What did the results of the study suggest about dreaming during REM versus NREM sleep?

The results supported the hypothesis that dreaming is more likely to occur during REM sleep, as 152 dreams were recalled from REM sleep compared to only 11 from NREM sleep.

How did participants' dream length estimations compare to actual dream durations?

The participants were able to accurately estimate dream lengths. In 51 awakenings after 5 minutes of REM sleep, 88% of the estimations were correct, and in 60 awakenings after 15 minutes, 78% were accurate.

What ethical concerns arose in the study?

One ethical issue was that a participant was deceived about the timing of their awakening. They were told they would only be woken when they were dreaming, but they were woken randomly during both REM and NREM sleep.

How did the use of EEG equipment benefit the study?

The use of EEG equipment allowed for reliable and objective measurement of brain activity, helping the researchers determine when participants entered REM sleep and thus collect consistent and quantitative data.

What was the generalizability of the study's findings?

The study's findings were considered consistent across participants, which suggests some generalizability. However, the small sample size limits the extent to which the results can be applied to the broader population.

What was the significance of eye movement patterns in the study?

The study found that eye movements during REM sleep correlated with the content of dreams. For example, vertical eye movements were linked to dreams involving climbing or lifting, while horizontal movements corresponded with dreams of throwing objects.