Speaker
Description
The field of dream engineering aims to develop techniques to modify nocturnal dreams systematically to investigate their significance and function. The so-called targeted memory reactivation (TMR) protocol involves pre-sleep associative conditioning, where a memory task is learned while sensory cues are presented. Presenting these cues during sleep has been shown to bias memory consolidation towards the learned content. If dreams reflect sleep-dependent memory consolidation, the hypothesis would therefore be, that TMR also influences dream content.
We developed a protocol combining an odor-based TMR with an emotional memory task and a serial awakening paradigm for dream assessment while measuring high-density EEG. This experimental protocol requires the use of different odors to be associated with specific memories, represented by distinct thematic pictures. Therefore, we performed a preliminary investigation aimed at identifying a set of distinguishable, affectively neutral, non or mildly trigeminal odors.
Eleven monomolecular odors were selected from the available literature based on their affective neutrality, distinctiveness, and chemical-physical properties. Twenty-two participants completed a standardized procedure in which they assessed each odor for its valence, arousal, familiarity, distinguishability, and trigeminal nerve sensations. Participants also reported the potential association of each odor with specific memories or semantic categories. This systematic procedure will allow us to exclude odors that may induce the reactivation of remote memories in place of those paired during pre-sleep associative conditioning. This assessment is crucial for the design and implementation of the subsequent experiments
| If you're submitting a poster, would you be interested in giving a blitz talk? | Yes |
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