Experimental Modification of Dream Content by Meaningful Verbal Stimuli

Numerous recent electroencephalographic studies have revealed the cyclical alternation of two distinct types of sleep (Dement and Kleitman, 1957a), which have been termed “fore-brain” and “hind-brain” sleep by Jouvet (1962). The former is accompanied by slow waves and spindles in the electroencephalogram (EEG) and the latter by a low-voltage, fairly fast EEG pattern; spasmodic, conjugate rapid eye movements (REMs); relaxation of neck and throat muscles in cat (Jouvet, 1962) and human (Berger, 1961); and recall of dreams following awakening (Dement and Kleitman, 1957b).