Dement And Kleitman Flashcards
(9 cards)
What was the aim of Dement and Kleitmans study
To understand the function of REM sleep and wether eye movements were connected to the content of dreams
When was Dement and Kleitmans study preformed
1957
Describe the participants used in Dement and Kleitmans study
7 adult males and 2 adult females
How were the findings recorded in Dement and Kleitmans study
They had a polysomnography and electrodes were connected to measure eye movement and brain waves during sleep
Participants detailed if they had dreamed or not and the content of the dream
How was Dement and Kleitmans study preformed
Participants slept individually in a laboratory after a normal days activity and were woken at various times in the night by a doorbell
What were the findings of Dement and Kleitmans study
80% of times participants woken during REM reported dreams compared to 9% reported when woken in non-REM
There was a strong positive correlation between length of time in REM and duration of dreams
Different types of REM had dreams associated e.g vertical REM was dreams in which the participant looked up and down
What was the conclusion of Dement and Kleitmans study
REM and dreams tie together with dreams mainly occurring in REM and happen in real time
What are the strengths of Dement and Kleitmans study
As it was in a laboratory variables were more easily controlled
As gender was mixed the results can be more easily applied to the wider population
The way the findings were gathered allowed dreams to be measured objectively
What are the weaknesses of Dement and Kleitmans study
Laboratory setting lacks ecological validity
Small sample size cannot be generalised to wider population
Biased in age as only adults were used
The way findings were gathered are not realistic e.g sleeping with electrodes
Subsequent studies do not support the eye movement correlating to content of dream conclusion
While dreams may be recalled in REM it does mot disprove that we dream in non-REM
Correlation does nit always equal causation
