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Cited by 15Sleep and Wakefulness ResearchSleep and related disordersRestless Legs Syndrome Research

Emotional facial expressions during REM sleep dreams

Rivera‐García, Ana P., López Ruiz, Irma E., Ramírez‐Salado, Ignacio, González‐Olvera, Jorge J., Ayala‐Guerrero, Fructuoso, Jiménez‐Anguiano, Anabel·2019·Journal of Sleep Research
DOI 10.1111/jsr.12716
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Abstract

Summary Although motor activity is actively inhibited during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, specific activations of the facial mimetic musculature have been observed during this stage, which may be associated with greater emotional dream mentation. Nevertheless, no specific biomarker of emotional valence or arousal related to dream content has been identified to date. In order to explore the electromyographic (EMG) activity (voltage, number, density and duration) of the corrugator and zygomaticus major muscles during REM sleep and its association with emotional dream mentation, this study performed a series of experimental awakenings after observing EMG facial activations during REM sleep. The study was performed with 12 healthy female participants using an 8‐hr nighttime sleep recording. Emotional tone was evaluated by five blinded judges and final valence and intensity scores were obtained. Emotions were mentioned in 80.4% of dream reports. The voltage, number, density and duration of facial muscle contractions were greater for the corrugator muscle than for the zygomaticus muscle, whereas high positive emotions predicted the number (R2 0.601, p = 0.0001) and voltage (R2 0.332, p = 0.005) of the zygomaticus. Our findings suggest that zygomaticus events were predictive of the experience of positive affect during REM sleep in healthy women.

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Crossref · 10.1111/jsr.12716

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  • Activation of corrugator and zygomaticus facial muscles during REM sleep occurs when the incidence of emotional DE is higher.

    “Rivera-García et al. (2018) analyzed the facial EMG signals along with the standard PSG measures, finding that the activation of corrugator and zygomaticus facial muscles during REM sleep occurs when the incidence of emotional DE is higher (Rivera-García et al., 2018).”

    From The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes (2019) · cites this paper as Rivera-García et al., 2018

  • Peak rates in healthy population corresponded to high negative emotional contents.

    “Besides, this study -examining a wider range of emotions- confirmed that the peak rates in healthy population corresponded to the high negative emotional contents (Rivera-García et al., 2018).”

    From The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes (2019) · cites this paper as Rivera-García et al., 2018

  • The DEB can be a viable access to dreams, overcoming the intrinsic difficulty to study dreaming.

    “Finally, considering that dreaming is an irregular phenomenon and not always observable, it should be considered that a new frontier to investigate more directly the relationship between dreaming and emotions is represented by the DEB (Rivera-García et al., 2018) that can be a viable access to dreams, overcoming the intrinsic difficulty to study this phenomenon (Arnulf, 2012; Alfonsi et al., 2019)”

    From The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes (2019) · cites this paper as Rivera-García et al., 2018

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  • The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes

    Scarpelli, S., Bartolacci, C., D'Atri, A., Gorgoni, M., & De Gennaro, L. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00459 · Cited by 190 · see citing works

    “Finally, considering that dreaming is an irregular phenomenon and not always observable, it should be considered that a new frontier to investigate more directly the relationship between dreaming and emotions is represented by the DEB (Rivera-García et al., 2018) that can be a viable access to dreams, overcoming the i…”
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Related

Authors
Rivera‐García, A. P., López Ruiz, I. E., Ramírez‐Salado, I., González‐Olvera, J. J., Ayala‐Guerrero, F., & Jiménez‐Anguiano, A.
Affiliations
  • Student at Doctorate Program in Biological Sciences and Health Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Mexico City Mexico
  • Laboratorio de Cronobiología y Sueño, Dirección de Investigación en Neurociencias Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz Mexico City Mexico
  • Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (MX)
  • Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz Mexico City Mexico
  • Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX)
  • Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (MX)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Sleep Research
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2018-06-04
Volume
28
Issue
1
Pages
e12716-e12716
ISSN
  • 0962-1105 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2869
DOI
10.1111/jsr.12716
OpenAlex
W2805420952
Cited by
15
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2
FWCI
0.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Journal of Sleep Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (NC123340.1)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Restless Legs Syndrome Research
Keywords
REM sleep, dream content, emotional facial expressions, facial muscle activity, corrugator supercilii, zygomaticus major, electromyography, dream emotions, positive affect, emotional valence, dream recall
MeSH terms
Adult, Dreams, Electromyography, Emotions, Facial Expression, Female, Humans, Sleep, REM, Young Adult, Healthy Volunteers

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