Sleep Research Proposal

King, D. B., & DeCicco, T. L. (2007). The relationships between dream content and physical health, mood, and self-construal. Dreaming, 17(3), 127-139. Retrieved from http://proxy.lib.utk.edu:90/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/614467693?acc ountid=14766 King and DeCicco researched how the content of dreams correlated with the physical functions of the body. They found that as energy, vitality, and health decreased in individuals, injuries and illnesses were found more frequently in their dreams. This suggests that dreams are reactive to biological functions. Since my topic covers dreams and their ability to predict aspects about our body, the source provides strong support of how dream content can be used as a possible diagnosis
(2004). The relationship of nightmare frequency and nightmare distress to well-being. Journal of Sleep Research, 13(2), 129-136. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2869.2004.00394.x This article dives deeper into the specifics of a nightmare. It claims that low well-being causes dreams to elicit more negative emotions which is the cause of distress that people feel after the dream. Blagrove et al. also addresses the different definitions of a nightmare and how an extremely disturbing dream versus a bad dream is a weaker predictor of well-being than just an unpleasant dream. This helps my research to be very specific in what types of dreams should be emphasized to predict bodily correlations.
Brown, R. J., & Donderi, D. C. (1986). Dream content and self-reported well-being among recurrent dreamers, past-recurrent dreamers, and nonrecurrent dreamers. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: Personality Processes and Individual Differences, 50(3), 612-623. Retrieved from http://proxy.lib.utk.edu:90/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/614374367?acc
(2014). Do your dreams predict your health? Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dream-factory/201412/do-your-dreams-predict- your-health Carr touches on how dreams are sorts of messages that warn people of oncoming illnesses. In general, dreams derived from sicknesses increase in violent nightmares, fearfulness, and recall. To summarize, bodily changes that occur subconsciously can correspond with shifts in dream content. If doctors were able to deduce specific dream patterns in patients over a period of time, early preparations or even prevention measures can be implemented.
Popova, M. (2012). Dreaming, depression, and how sleep affects emotions. The Atlantic. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/08/dreaming-depression- and-how-sleep-affects-emotions/261051/ Popova discusses multiple points of sleep researcher Rosalind D. Cartwright’s book of sleep and dreaming. She found that the earlier the first REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep begins, the more severe the depression of the subject is. Moreover, when patients are awakened five minutes into the first REM, they are unable to recall their dreams. Observing the first REM cycle of sleeping can help physicians diagnose depression earlier in patients who have affected sleep