Postsession dreaming in neurofeedback as an indication of nondeclarative learning

Abstract

Clients may report increased dreaming following neurofeedback sessions. Increased dreaming may not be strictly a side effect of training but may rather be a result of the nondeclarative learning accomplished in training. Research has demonstrated the connection between dreaming and consolidation of memory in both animals and human subjects. Rapid eye movement (REM) deprivation studies have shown the importance of REM sleep to the retention of newly learned skills. Other studies have shown that learning may increase the proportion of REM sleep on subsequent nights. More specifically, REM dreaming may be related to the consolidation of procedural, nondeclarative memory, the type of learning that occurs also during neurofeedback training. When a client reports increased nocturnal dreaming following a neurofeedback session, this may serve as a valuable early indication that their brain is responding to this type of training.