A replication of the 5–7day dream-lag effect with comparison of dreams to future events as control for baseline matching
Abstract
The dream-lag effect refers to there being, after the frequent incorporation of memory elements from the previous day into dreams (the day-residue), a lower incorporation of memory elements from 2 to 4 days before the dream, but then an increased incorporation of memory elements from 5 to 7 days before the dream. Participants (n=8, all female) kept a daily diary and a dream diary for 14 days and then rated the level of matching between every dream report and every daily diary record. Baseline matching was assessed by comparing all dream reports to all diary records for days that occurred after the dream. A significant dream-lag effect for the 5-7 day period, compared to baseline and compared to the 2-4 day period, was found. This may indicate a memory processing function for sleep, which the dream content may reflect. Participants' and three independent judges' mean ratings also confirmed a significant day-residue effect.
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After the first peak in incorporation of waking memories into DE (day-residue effect), there is a second peak 6-7 days later (dream-lag effect).
“It is well-known that after the first peak in incorporation of waking memories into DE (1 day from the events) called “day-residue effect,” there is a second peak following the experience 6–7 days later, i.e., dream-lag effect (Nielsen et al., 2004; Blagrove et al., 2011; Eichenlaub et al., 2019).”
From The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes (2019) · cites this paper as Blagrove et al., 2011
Delayed incorporation of daytime events holds for REM sleep dreams but not NREM-DE.
“This delayed incorporation of daytime events has been found to hold for REM sleep dreams but not NREM-DE (Blagrove et al., 2011; van Rijn et al., 2015).”
From The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes (2019) · cites this paper as Blagrove et al., 2011
Some dream experiences could incorporate waking events.
“In other words, some dream experiences could incorporate waking events.48–51”
From Spotlight on dream recall: the ages of dreams (2018) · cites this paper as [49]
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The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes
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Self-citationAssessing the dream-lag effect for rem and nrem stage 2 dreams
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Self-citationEichenlaub, J.-B., van Rijn, E., Gaskell, M. G., Lewis, P. A., Maby, E., Malinowski, J. E., Walker, M. P., Boy, F., & Blagrove, M. (2018) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsy041 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
“…described by Freud using the term ‘day-residues’ (Freud, 1953/1900), and, more recently, numerous studies have refined this phenomenon (Nielsen and Powell, 1989; Powell et al., 1995; Nielsen et al., 2004; Schredl, 2006; Blagrove et al., 2011a,b; van Rijn et al., 2015, 2018; Vallat et al., 2017a).”
Self-citationDaily Life Experiences in Dreams and Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation
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Self-citationEdwards, C. L., Ruby, P. M., Malinowski, J. E., Bennett, P. D., & Blagrove, M. T. (2013) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00979 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Self-citationSpotlight on dream recall: the ages of dreams
Mangiaruga, A., Scarpelli, S., Bartolacci, C., & De Gennaro, L. (2018) · Nature and Science of Sleep · doi:10.2147/nss.s135762 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Dreaming and personality: Wake-dream continuity, thought suppression, and the Big Five Inventory
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Blagrove, M., Henley-Einion, J., Barnett, A., Edwards, D., & Heidi Seage, C.
- Affiliations
- Swansea University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Blagrove, Mark
- Venue
- Consciousness and Cognition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-06
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 384-391
- ISSN
- 1053-8100 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2042997274
- Cited by
- 51
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Consciousness and Cognition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Keywords
- dream content, dream recall, dream diary
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Dreams, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Sleep, Sleep Stages, Time Factors, Young Adult
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