Abstracts

Björn Rasch/Prof. Dr./Universität of Fribourg, Switzerland
Abstract: Reactivating memories by cue presentation during sleep benefits memory under controlled laboratory conditions in healthy adults. In real-life, the success of targeted memory reactivation (TMR) during sleep still needs to be established. I will present recent results from our group for TMR in different settings and subjects populations.
Reference: Rasch, B., Büchel, C., Gais, S., & Born, J. (2007). Odor cues during slow-wave sleep prompt declarative memory consolidation. Science, 315, 1426-1429.Schreiner, T., Lehmann, M. & Rasch, B. (2015). Auditory feedback blocks memory benefits of cueing during sleep. Nature Communications. 6:8729.Schoch SF., Cordi MJ., Schredl M. & Rasch B. (2018). The effect of dream report collection and dream incorporation on memory consolidation during sleep. J Sleep Res. Aug 8:e12754.doi: 10.1111/jsr.12754.

Ken Paller / Professor / Northwestern University (Evanston, IL, USA)
Abstract: Whereas memory research has mostly focused on input and output, intervening processing during the time between acquisition and retrieval is also relevant. A growing body of evidence implicates sleep in changing memory storage. In particular, subtle auditory stimulation has been used to selectively encourage memory reactivation during sleep, which thereby improves learning. Investigations of the neural mechanisms of memory processing during sleep may help us enhance the memory benefits of sleep in a variety of circumstances where learning is important.
Reference: Paller, K.A. (2018). Do house-elves clean your brain while you sleep? Frontiers for YoungPaller, K.A., & Oudiette, D. (2018). Sleep learning gets real: Experimental techniques demonstrate how to strengthen memories whPaller, K.A. (2017). Sleeping in a Brave New World: Opportunities for improving learning and clinical outcomes through targeted memory reactivation. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 26, 532-537.

Robert Stickgold / Associate Professor of Psychiatry / Harvard Medical School
Abstract: Sleep, Memory and Dreams: I will describe how dreams contribute to sleep-dependent memory evolution.
Reference: • Ajilore O, Stickgold R, Rittenhouse CD, Hobson JA. Nightcap: laboratory and home-based evaluation of a portable sleep monitor. Psychophysiology. 1995;32(1):92-8. PubMed PMID: 7878174.• Stickgold R, Malia A, Maguire D, Roddenberry D, O'Connor M. Replaying the game: hypnagogic images in normals and amnesics. Science. 2000;290(5490):350-3. PubMed PMID: 11030656.• Wamsley EJ, Tucker M, Payne JD, Benavides JA, Stickgold R. Dreaming of a learning task is associated with enhanced sleep-dependent memory consolidation. Curr Biol. 2010;20(9):850-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2010.03.027. PubMed PMID: 20417102; PubMed Central PMCID: PMCPMC2869395..

Stuart Fogel / Assistant Professor / University of Ottawa
Abstract: Sleep supports the strengthening of newly acquired memories. Our recent work has demonstrated that this optimization of memory unfolds progressively during sleep, and for motor skills memory, results in a strengthened and transformed memory trace, as a result of reactivation during sleep spindle events. Trait-like interindividual differences in spindle-related brain activation are also related to interindividual Fluid Intelligence. Moreover, the extent of learning-related incorporation of newly acquired information into dream content is related to intellectual functioning. Thus, sleep is involved in memory consolidation, reflected by the transformation, restoration and strengthening of functional brain networks involved in learning. Sleep also supports intellectual functioning, which is reflected in the content of our dreams.
Reference: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01398https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24987.001https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174755

Benjamin Baird / Dr. / University of Wisconsin - Madison
Abstract: For reasons not currently well understood, humans are typically unaware that they are dreaming while dreaming. At times, however, a remarkable exception occurs and we can regain full reflective consciousness during sleep, and become aware of the fact that we are dreaming, a state referred to as lucid dreaming. Despite having been physiologically validated for decades, the neurobiology of lucid dreaming is still incompletely characterized. In this talk I will discuss several recent findings that shed new light on this question. Using an individual differences approach, our recent neuroimaging findings converge with previous results in providing preliminary evidence for a role of anterior prefrontal, parietal and temporal cortices in lucid dreaming. Furthermore, our recent findings suggest that a state of the brain conductive to lucid dreaming can be induced pharmacologically with acetycholinesterase inhibition. Finally, I will discuss recent findings that illustrate the potential of lucid dreaming as a useful methodology for the cognitive neuroscience of consciousness.
Reference: Baird, B., Castelnovo, A., Gosseries, O., Tononi, G. T. (2018). Frequent lucid dreaming associated with increased functional connectivity between frontopolar cLaberge, S.*, Baird, B.*, Zimbardo, P. G. (2018). Smooth tracking of visual targets distinguish lucid REM sleep drLaBerge, S., LaMarca, K., Baird, B. (2018). Pre-sleep treatment with galantamine stimulates lucid dreaming: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. PLoS ONE, 13(8), e0201246.

Karen Konkoly / PhD Student / Northwestern University
Abstract: Lucid dreaming can be a valuable tool for developing our understanding of sleep and consciousness, but several obstacles complicate experimental studies of the phenomenon. In this presentation, I present results from two studies aimed at overcoming some of these obstacles. Firstly, lucid dreams can be difficult to capture in a sleep laboratory setting. To address this challenge, I present results of a new method of lucid-dream induction based on targeted memory reactivation (TMR), involving pre-sleep training and presenting cues during REM sleep. Using this method, we successfully induced lucid dreams in 56% of participants in a single morning nap session. Our next study aims to address two more challenges in dream research, the unpredictability of dream content and the reliance on retrospective reports. With a TMR-based method for producing two-way communication between an experimenter and a dreamer, we hope to move towards a systematic way to manipulate dream content and facilitate dream reporting in real time.
Reference: Konkoly, K. (2016). This could be a dream. TedX Talk on Lucid Dreaming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Konkoly, K. & C. Burke. (2018). Learning to lucid dream enhances aspects of personal growth. Poster Presented at Zurich Sleep Health Conference, 2018. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2a05/1bbaf181a0ccbe56d1b9367bf084086e2861.pdCarr M., Konkoly K., Mallett R., Appel K., and Blagrove, M. (2018). How do cues played during sleep affect dream content? Talk presented at 2018 International Association of Dreams conference in Scottsdale, AZ. https://iasdconfe

Martin Dresler / Dr. / Donders Institute
Abstract: Virtual Reality for lucid dream induction
Reference: Dresler M, Wehrle R, Spoormaker VI, Holsboer F, Steiger A, Czisch M, Hobson JA: Neural correlates of insight in dreaming and psychosis. Sleep Medicine Reviews 2015, 22: 92-99. Dresler M, Wehrle R, Spoormaker VI, Holsboer F, Steiger A, Koch S, Obrig H, Sämann PG, Czisch M: Neural correlates of dream lucidity obtained from contrasting lucid versus non- lucid REM sleep: a combined EEG/fMRI case study. Sleep 2012, 35: 1017-1020. Dresler M, Koch S, Wehrle R, Spoormaker VI, Holsboer F, Steiger A, Sämann PG, Obrig H, Czisch M: Dreamed movement elicits activation in the sensorimotor cortex. Current Biology 2011, 21: 1833-1837.

Tore Nielsen / Professor / University of Montreal
Abstract: Preliminary studies suggest that 40-Hz oscillations in frontal brain circuits are associated with lucid dreaming (LD) and that transcranial 40-Hz stimulation delivered frontally during REM sleep may induce either LDs or heightened self-awareness during dreaming. Both transcranial direct (tDC) and alternating (tAC) current stimulation during sleep have been shown to be effective, but methodological weaknesses of these 2 studies prompted us to attempt a replication. 40-Hz tAC stimulation was thus delivered during REM sleep (STIM condition) in groups of LD-naive, LD-experienced, and nightmare-prone individuals and measures of LD compared with non-stimulation (SHAM) control conditions. Signal verification of a LD, using left-right eye movement sequences, was accomplished by 15% of subjects in STIM trials. However, they were also produced in 21% of SHAM trials. Subject self-ratings of dream self-awareness were also similar for STIM and SHAM trials. Follow-up conditions were explored to rule out possible situational factors that may have contributed to the LD occurrences in both the STIM and SHAM conditions.
Reference: -Nielsen, T. (201-Blanchette-Carriere, C., et al. (2016). "Induction of dream self-awareness by transcranial alternating current st-Carr, M., et al. (2016). "Nightmare sufferers show atypical emotional semantic associations and prolonged REM sleep-dependent emotional priming." Sleep Medicine 20: 80-87.

Stephen LaBerge / PhD / Lucidity Institute
Abstract: Lucid Dreaming Induction: What is the State-of-the-Art?
Reference:

Dr. Leslie Ellis / Psychotherapist, author, teacher / Adler University
Abstract: The Nightmare is the Most Useful Dream - Revisited Idiopathic nightmares are often viewed as problematic but their experiential intensity makes them a powerful vehicle for clinical change. Emotional memory reconsolidation theory suggests if we experientially encounter something directly incompatible with what we believe, the emotional memory associated with that belief becomes unstable and amenable to lasting change (under very specific conditions). I will talk about how this kind of change can happen in clinical practice, and suggest that dreamwork is a way of understanding (and potentially enhancing) the emotional regulation and memory revision processes that dreams themselves are implicated in. Nightmares are particularly powerful change agents because of the strong emotion and oppositional ideas they bring.
Reference:Book: A Clinician’s Guide to Dream Therapy: Implementing Simple and Effective Dreamwork. Forthcoming from Routledge, August 2019 Chapter: Body dreamwork: Using focusing to interpret your dreams. In Dreams: Understanding Biology, Psychology and Culture. A 2-volume reference book forthcoming from ABC-Clio/Greenwood. Ellis, L. A. Qualitative changes in recurrent PTSD nightmares after focusing-oriented dreamwork. Dreaming, September 2016, Vol. 26, No. 3. Chapter: Focusing-Oriented Dreamwork. In Lewis, J. & Krippner, S. (Eds.), Working with Dreams and Nightmares: 14 Approaches for Psychotherapists and Counselors. Praeger, 2016.

George A. Mashour / Professor & Associate Dean / University of Michigan Medical School
Abstract: Consciousness Studies and Anesthesiology
Reference: Hambrecht-Wiedbusch V, Li D, Mashour GA. Paradoxical emergence: administration of subanesthetic ketamine during isoflurane anesthesia induces burst suppression but accelerates recovery. Anesthesiology 2017;126(3):482-494. Avidan MS, Maybrier HR, Abdallah AB, Jacobsohn E, Vlisides PE, Pryor KO, Veselis RA, Grocott HP, Emmert DA, Rogers EM, Downey RJ, Yulico H, Noh GJ, Lee YH, Waszynski CM, Arya VK, Pagel PS, Hudetz JA, Muench MR, Fritz BA, Waberski W, Inouye SK, Mashour GA. Intraoperative ketamine for prevention of postoperative delirium or pain after major surgery in older adults: an international, multicentre, double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Lancet 2017;S0140-6736(17)31467-8. Pal D, Dean J, Liu T, Li D, Watson C, Hudetz AG, Mashour GA. Differential role of prefrontal and parietal cortices in controlling level of consciousness. Current Biology 2018;28(13):2145-2152.

Kendra Holt Moore / / The Center for Mind and Culture
Abstract: We pilot tested the efficacy of a virtual reality-based imagery rehearsal and rescripting treatment (ReScript) for nightmares. Nineteen community volunteers (Mage __ 49 years) who varied in terms of their nightmare distress levels participated in a 4-week-long trial of ReScript therapy. Participants used VR manual controls in an Oculus headset to manipulate 3 scary or threatening images per session with 2 sessions per week. The object was to manipulate these images into less scary or threatening images so as to gain cognitive control over intrusive imagery and to lessen overall anxiety or nightmare distress or nightmare daytime effects. Images were taken from the International Affective Picture System database and varied along 3 affective dimensions (valence, arousal, and dominance) important for nightmare imagery. Results demonstrated a significant reduction (from baseline to trial end) in anxiety levels, nightmare distress, and nightmare effects (all effect sizes .63 or above), as well as a significant decrease in anxiety words and a significant increase in cognitive process words in rescripted narratives. Nightmare frequency was also significantly reduced though effect size was small. No significant side or adverse effects were reported by participants during the 4-week trial. Indeed, Depersonalization and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Checklist scores significantly declined and mood function tests improved over the 4-week trial. We conclude that ReScript may be a safe and effective short-term therapy for nightmare distress but should next be tested with a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Reference: For dream research in particular: Patrick McNamara (pmcnamar3@gmail.com; PI of research project on ReScript) Wesley J. Wildman (wwildman@bu.edu; researcher for ReScript and my PhD advisor)

Péter Simor / PhD / Eötvös Loránd University, Institute of Psychology
Abstract: Idiopathic nightmare disorder (IND) is a relatively prevalent sleep complaint and constitutes a risk factor for psychiatric conditions, especially PTSD. Despite its clinical relevance, the pathophysiology of frequent nightmares was only scarcely investigated; however, some of the previous studies indicate impaired sleep regulation and altered arousal-related activity in IND. Our aim was to examine sleep and dream quality, PTSD-like symptomatology, as well as electroencephalographic markers of sleep regulation and arousal-related cortical activity in IND. The relative spectral power during NREM and REM periods, as well as during NREM, to REM transitions was compared across 22 idiopathic nightmare sufferers (NMs) and 22 matched healthy controls. Moreover, participants completed questionnaires with respect to sleep quality, dream experiences and mental complaints. NMs compared to CTLs scored higher on PTSD-like symptoms, and reported significantly higher negative dream emotions and negative affect upon awakening. Although subjective sleep quality was not different across groups, NMs showed a lower amount of Slow Wave Sleep during the night. Furthermore, NMs exhibited reduced slow frequency and increased fast frequency activity during NREM sleep, and increased high alpha-low beta power in REM sleep resembling wake-like activity. Analyses of sleep state transitions indicated impaired sleep regulation and hyperarousal in NMs, especially during NREM to REM transitions. Our findings indicate an imbalance between sleep regulatory and wake promoting systems in NMs. Impaired sleep regulation and hyperarousal seem to characterize the pathophysiology of IND that might contribute to the development of psychopathological conditions.
Reference: Simor, P., Gombos, F., Blaskovich, B., Bódizs, R. (2018). Long-range alpha/beta and short-range gamma EEG synchronization distinguishes phasic and tonic REM periods. SLEEP, 41(3). doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsx210. Simor, P., Körmendi, J., Horváth, K., Gombos, F., Ujma, P., Bódizs, R. (2014) Electroencephalographic and Autonomic Alterations in Nightmare Disorder during Pre-and Post-REM periods. Brain and Cognition, 91, 62-70. DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2014.08.004 Simor, P., Horváth, K., Ujma, P., Gombos, F., Bódizs, R. (2013). Fluctuations between sleep and wakefulness: wake-like features indicated by increased EEG alpha power during different sleep stages in nightmare disorder. Biological Psychology, 94, 592-600.

Carlyle Smith / Professor Emeritus of Psychology / Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
Abstract: Heads-Up Dreams are dreams that portray future events in the waking state. They are precognitive dreams that can be helpful to the dreamer or others in navigating future waking state activities. These kinds of dreams have been discussed historically for many years. The presenter has been observing this phenomenon in his own dreams as well as those of colleagues, friends and a gifted medical intuitive for over 40 years. An examination of these kinds of dreams, their characteristics and implications for dream theory and practical use will be presented.
Reference: Smith, C. (2010). Sleep states, memory processing and dreams. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 5, 217-228.Fogel, S.M. and Smith, C.T. (2011). The function of the sleep spindle: a physiological index of intelligence and a mechanism for sleep-dependent memory consolidation. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 35, 1154 – 1165. Peigneux, P., Fogel, S. & Smith, C. (2017). Memory processing in relation to sleep. Principles & Practice of Sleep Medicine, 6th Edition. W. B. Saunders.

Elizaveta Solomonova / Dr / McGill University, Psychiatry department, Neurophilosophy Lab
Abstract: Sensory incorporation in dreaming
Reference: Solomonova, E., & Carr, M. (2019). Incorporation of external stimuli into dream content. To appear in: Dreams: Biology, Psychology and Culture. Volume I. Valli, K., and Hoss, R. editors. Greenwood Publishing Group. Solomonova, E. (2018). Sleep paralysis: phenomenology, neurophysiology and treatment. The Oxford Handbook of Spontaneous Thought: Mind-Wandering, Creativity, Dreaming and Clinical Disorders. Chapter 31. Fox, K. and Christoff, K. editors. Oxford University Press. DOI:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190464745.013.20 Solomonova, E., Dubé, S., Samson-Richer, A., Blanchette-Carrière, S., Paquette, T. & Nielsen, T. (2018). Dream content and procedural learning in Vipassana meditators and controls. Dreaming, 28 (2). 99-121 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/drm0000081

Francesca Siclari / Dr. / University Hospital Lausanne, Switzerland
Abstract: Dream experiences during Non-REM parasomnia episodes: phenomenological and EEG characteristics
Reference: Siclari F, Baird B, Perogamvros L, Bernardi G, LaRocque JJ, Riedner B, Boly M, Postle BR and Tononi G. The neural correlates of dreaming. Nature Neuroscience. 2017;20(6):872-8. Siclari F, Bernardi G, Cataldi, J, Tononi G. Dreaming in NREM sleep: a high-density study of slow waves and spindles. Journal of Neuroscience. 2018, 38(43):9175-9185. Siclari F, LaRocque JJ, Postle BR and Tononi G. Assessing sleep consciousness within subjects using a serial awakening paradigm. Frontiers in Psychology 2013, 4: 542.

Claudia Picard-Deland / PhD student in Neuroscience / Université de Montréal
Abstract: Memory replays during sleep can be triggered by replaying a stimulus associated with prior learning, a method known as targeted memory reactivation (TMR). Whether TMR influences whole-body procedural learning and whether it relates to dream ‘replays’ is still unknown. Our study aims to enhance procedural learning of a VR-flying task with TMR and assess whether dream content is influenced by it. A total of 59 healthy participants (23.67±4.22 yrs old; 34 F) took part in the VR task prior to and following a polysomnographically-recorded morning nap, during which task-associated tones were either replayed in NREM sleep (N=19; Stim-NREM), in REM sleep (N=19; Stim-REM) or were absent (N=20; Control). Our procedural task uses the VIVE room-scale system and involves flying through a circuit of rings in a virtual environment as precisely and quickly as possible, to engage vestibular and motor systems. A mixed-design ANOVA revealed a significant interaction between time (pre-nap, post-nap) and condition (Stim-NREM, Stim-REM, Control), F(2,55)=8.370, p=.0007, with a better post-nap performance for the Stim-REM group compared with controls (p=.048). Contrary to our expectations, the presence of the auditory stimulation during sleep was related with lower self-reported lucidity in dream content and did not enhance dream replays of the VR task. However, across all groups, dreams incorporating kinesthetic elements similar to the VR task (e.g. flying, floating, driving fast) were associated with marginally higher improvement compared with no incorporation (p=.081), while dreaming about static visual elements of the task (i.e. landscapes) was not (p=.816). These results, although preliminary, suggest that TMR during REM sleep could influence sensorimotor skill performance. Independently, dreaming about proprioceptive elements of the procedural task is also associated with larger improvement in performance. Findings may help understand the relationship between dreaming and procedural memory consolidation processes and the development of new sleep-based methods that use VR to optimize motor memory.
Reference:

Dan Denis / Dr / Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School
Abstract:
Reference: Denis, D., Poerio, G.L., Derveeuw, S., Badini, I., and Gregory, A.M. (2018). Associations between exploding head syndrome and measures of sleep quality and experiences, dissociation, and well-being. Sleep. DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsy216 Denis, D., and Poerio, G.L. (2017). Terror and bliss? Commonalities and distinctions between sleep paralysis, lucid dreaming, and their associations with waking life experiences. Journal of Sleep Research. 26 (1), 38-47. DOI: 10.1111/jsr.12441 Denis, D., French, C.C., Rowe, R., Zavos, H.M.S., Nolan, P.M., Parsons, M.J., and Gregory, A.M. (2015). A twin and molecular genetics study of sleep paralysis and associated factors. Journal of Sleep Research. 24 (4), 438-446. DOI: 10.1111/jsr.12282

Daniel Erlacher / Associate Professor / University of Bern
Abstract: Inducing lucid dreams by olfactory-cued reactivation of prospective memory during early-morning sleep The present study combines our pilot findings of relatively high inductions rates – even in unselected students – with the findings that tasks that are learned during wakefulness coupled with a specific odor can be reactivated during sleep if this odor is presented. We expect an even higher induction rate of inducing lucid dreams by combining these two effective methods.
Reference: Erlacher, D., Schädlich, M., Stumbrys, T., & Schredl, M. (2014). Time for actions in lucid dreams: effects of task modality, length, and complexity. Frontiers in Psychology, 4. doi:10.3389/Fpsyg.2013.01013 Stumbrys, T., Erlacher, D., & Schredl, M. (2016). Effectiveness of motor practice in lucid dreams: a comparison with physical and mental practice. Journal of Sports Sciences, 34(1), 27-34. doi:10.1080/02640414.2015.1030342 Erlacher, D., Ehrlenspiel, F., Adegbesan, O., & Galal El-Din, H. (2011). Sleep habits in German athletes before

Enmanuelle Pardilla-Delgado / PhD / MGH/HMS
Abstract: Title: Dream Reporting May Shift Memory Processing To A Gist-Like State Authors: Enmanuelle Pardilla-Delgado and Jessica D. Payne Gist-based false memory has been widely studied using the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) task, in which participants, after studying a list of semantically related words (nurse, sick, hospital, etc.), later falsely remember an unstudied ‘gist’ word (doctor). Sleeping soon after learning benefits studied words (i.e. nurse, sick) and memory for gist (i.e. doctor) when tested 24 or 48hr after encoding. It has been proposed that, through trace reactivation, memory-related content may be incorporated into dreams, and reports of stimulus-related dream content have been shown to increase subsequent performance. Here we explored whether dreaming about the DRM task would modulate sleep-based memory enhancement. Participants encoded 16 DRM lists in the evening and were tested either 24 or 48 hours later. Testing consisted of a free recall task followed by a recognition test. For both tests, participants had to indicate how confident they were in their responses using a 1-4 Likert scale. They spent their first night in our laboratory while their sleep was monitored with PSG. The following morning, participants were awakened and asked to report their mentation and then were asked a yes/no question about whether they dreamt about the DRM task and/or words. There was no difference in memory for studied words between participants who reported task-related mentation (YES, n=18) and those who did not (NO, n=37), all t’s <1.15, all p’s> .26. However, when subjects were highly confident in their gist memory (3-4 ratings), recognition memory was elevated in the YES group, compared to the NO group t(53)=1.98, p=.05. Similarly, high-confidence false recall was increased in the YES group, compared to the NO group t(53)=3.17, p=.003. These results suggest a role for dreaming in the “gistification” of memories, particularly for those memories that were consolidated more strongly and later retrieved with high confidence.
Reference: 1. Pardilla-Delgado, E. & Payne, J.D. (2017). The impact of sleep on true and false memory across long delays. Neurobiology of Learning & Memory, 137, 123-133. 2. Pardilla-Delgado, E., Alger, S.E., Cunningham, T.C., Kinealy, B., & Payne J.D. (2016) Effects of post-encoding stress on performance in the DRM false memory paradigm. Learning & Memory, 23 (1), 43-50. 3. Pardilla-Delgado, E., Mattingly, S.M., Alger, S.E., Chambers, A.M., Cunningham, T.J., & Payne, J.D. (2015). Sleep’s role in the consolidation and integration of declarative memories. In M. Sakakibara & E. Ito (Eds.), Memory Consolidation. Nova Science Publishers: New York.

Katelyn I. Oliver / CRC II / MGH and HMS
Abstract: Sleep disturbances are core manifestations of PTSD. We examined the association of nightmares and bad dreams with composite index scores of psychopathology and hyperarousal. Individuals exposed to a PTSD Criterion-A trauma within the past 2-years (N=70, 45 females) completed the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (range=0-50, mean=21.4, SD=12.8; 32 meeting DSM-IV-TR PTSD criteria). They also completed questionnaires measuring hyperarousal (Composite Hyperarousal Index; CHI), general psychopathology (Composite Psychopathology Index; CPI), and 12-27 nights of sleep diaries (mean=14.8, SD=2.45) asking if recalled dreams were nightmares (caused waking) or bad dreams and their resemblance to trauma. CHI significantly predicted nightmares (R=0.32, p=0.008), bad-dreams (R=0.33, p=0.006), and their combined rates (R=0.411, p=0.0007), but not trauma-related-nightmares (p=0.15). Relationships of CPI with these rates were weaker: nightmares (p=0.52), bad-dreams (p=0.013), bad dreams/nightmares (p=0.049), and trauma-related-nightmares (p=0.68). Since hyperarousal scores predicted nightmare and bad dream rates better than general psychopathology, interventions focusing more on features of hyperarousal may assist in treating trauma-related nightmares.
Reference: As of now, I do not have any publications. However, I am working on several projects relevant to emotion, sleep and trauma.

Ma Cherrysse Ulsa / Undergraduate Student / Massachusetts General Hospital
Abstract: Sleep disturbances are core manifestations of PTSD. We examined the association of nightmares and bad dreams with composite index scores of psychopathology and hyperarousal. Individuals exposed to a PTSD Criterion-A trauma within the past 2-years (N=70, 45 females) completed the Clinician- Administered PTSD Scale (range=0-50, mean=21.4, SD=12.8; 32 meeting DSM-IV-TR PTSD criteria). They also completed questionnaires measuring hyperarousal (Composite Hyperarousal Index; CHI), general psychopathology (Composite Psychopathology Index; CPI), and 12-27 nights of sleep diaries (mean=14.8, SD=2.45) asking if recalled dreams were nightmares (caused waking) or bad dreams and their resemblance to trauma. CHI significantly predicted nightmares (R=0.32, p=0.008), bad-dreams (R=0.33, p=0.006), and their combined rates (R=0.411, p=0.0007), but not trauma-related-nightmares (p=0.15). Relationships of CPI with these rates were weaker: nightmares (p=0.52), bad-dreams (p=0.013), bad dreams/nightmares (p=0.049), and trauma-related-nightmares (p=0.68). Since hyperarousal scores predicted nightmare and bad dream rates better than general psychopathology, interventions focusing more on features of hyperarousal may assist in treating trauma-related nightmares.
Reference:

Nathan Whitmore / / Northwestern University
Abstract: Targeted memory reactivation (TMR) during sleep typically requires expensive and specialized hardware, which limits subject count and applicability in everyday life. We have developed apps for TMR with consumer smartphones/watches , and are exploring how these devices can trigger TMR on specific sleep events and measure participant response to TMR cues. TMR using consumer devices offers a promising way to more broadly apply TMR in memory enhancement, lucid dream induction, and treatment of sleep disorders.
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Perrine Ruby / PhD / Lyon Neuroscience Research Center
Abstract: Incorporation of a recent experience into dreams: does it help memory consolidation? A critical review of the literature, and new experimental results for visuo-olfactory episodic memory J. Plailly, M. Villalba, R. Vallat, A. Nicolas, P. Ruby The question of a possible link between dream content and memory consolidation remains open as revealed by a review of the few studies which tested whether the incorporation of a new task into dream reports is associated with improved post-sleep memory performance. To further test this hypothesis, 32 high dream recallers freely explored new visuo-olfactory episodes (odors presented at precise locations of a landscape picture), for 3 consecutive days. During the 3 nights following each non-explicit encoding, participants wore a wrist actimeter, and woke up at 5am and at their usual waking time to report their possible dreams. Among the 192 awakenings 120 led to a dream report. The scoring of dream reports yielded the identification of elements related to the encoding phase in 22 of them. It was mainly visual elements (odors related to the encoding phase were identified in only two dream reports). The 4th day, as compared to the other participants, participants who had reported learning-related dreams had no significantly better performance at odor recognition and odor-evoked episodic memory, but they did have better memory of the visuo-spatial part of the episodes. Our findings suggest that only those elements which were incorporated into dreams were better consolidated.
Reference: https://sites.google.com/site/perrineruby/articles

Remington Mallett / Mr. / University of Texas at Austin
Abstract: Once lucid, a dreaming subject can often perform predetermined actions. Given that BCIs can be controlled with imagery during waking, I asked the question whether a BCI trained on waking imagery could be controlled from within a lucid dream. Pilot data from 2 subjects with high lucid dreaming experience suggests that BCI control is transferable between states of waking and lucid dreaming.
Reference: Behavioral decoding of working memory items inside and outside the focus of attention, Ann NY Acad Sci

Ryan Bottary / PhD Student / Boston College
Abstract: Stress, sleep and spindle activity influence item recall following in vivo incidental encoding task Ryan M. Bottary1, Tony J. Cunningham1,2, Sarah M. Kark1, Ryan Daley1, Jessica D. Payne3, Elizabeth A Kensinger1 1Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 2Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 3Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN Introduction Stress levels and sleep have both individually been shown to impact memory encoding and consolidation, affecting subsequent memory retrieval. Additionally, when present in close spatial or temporal proximity, salient, negative-valanced stimuli are prioritized in memory over neutral-valanced counterparts (i.e. emotional memory trade-off). Here, we probed emotional memory trade-off using an in vivo incidental encoding task that was followed by overnight sleep. Methods Sixty-five participants (35 female; age 18-31, M=21.9±2.7) completed a baseline sleep assessment with actigraphy and self-reported sleep quality prior to the first experimental session. Participants were then randomized to complete one of two incidental encoding tasks involving either a validated psychosocial stressor (Trier Social Stress Test [TSST]) or matched control task. During TSST (Stress condition) or control task (Control condition), neutral items (e.g. stapler, tape dispenser, coat hanger) placed in various locations within the testing room served as targets for incidental encoding. In the Stress condition, but not Control condition, judges served as salient, stress-inducing between-subjects probes for emotional memory trade-off. Task-evoked stress was assessed by salivary cortisol rise from pre- to 20-mins post-encoding (CortPeak). Post-encoding overnight sleep was recorded with PSG. The following day, participants were given a recognition task that included a list of possible items previously encountered in the testing room where incidental encoding occurred. Participants gave high/low confidence ratings about the presence or absence of listed items. Between-group recall performance was assessed using number of hits (i.e. correct identification of items that were present during encoding) and false alarms (i.e. incorrect identification of items that were absent during encoding). Results Groups did not differ by subjective (PSQI) or objective (actigraphy-measured TST, SE%, WASO or PSG-measured N1%, N2%, SWS%, REM% and NREM sleep spindle density) sleep measures (all ps>.152). Condition-dependent stress was established by greater CortPeak in Stress vs. Control group, t(34.96)=3.76,p=.001. Independent samples t-tests were used to compare between-group hits and false alarms at both levels of confidence (high [HC]/low [LC]). Compared with Stress group, Controls achieved significantly more HC hits, t(58)=-2.66, p=0.01. All other comparisons were non-significant (all ps>0.33). Post-hoc correlations in the Stress group only revealed that false alarms were negatively associated with SWS% (r=-.365, p=0.044), suggesting that diminished SWS increased the tendency toward falsely remembering non-existent features of the testing room. In Controls, overnight REM% correlated positively (r=.415,p=.025), and N1% negatively (r=-.378, p=.043), with overall hits. HC hits correlated positively with NREM sleep spindle density measured from frontal EEG channels (r=.415,p=.028). Conclusions The present findings represent novel evidence for in vivo emotional memory trade-off: higher confidence memory for neutral items was reduced when salient, stress-inducing stimuli were present during encoding. When a stressor was present, greater post-encoding SWS appeared to have a protective effect against false memory formation, as evidenced by diminished false alarms at recall. In the absence of a stressor, neutral-item memory was reduced by higher proportions of light post-encoding sleep and enhanced by independent contributions from REM sleep and NREM sleep spindles. Support Research was supported by NSF Grant BCS 1539361
Reference: Pace-Schott, E.F., Bottary, R.M., Kim, S., Rosencrans, P., Vijayakumar, S., Orr, S.P., Lasko, N.B., Goetter, E., Baker, A., Bianchi, M.T., Gannon, K., Hoeppner, S., Hofmann, S.G., Simon, N.M. Effects of post-exposure naps on exposure therapy for social anxiety. Psychiatry research, 270, 523-530. Seo, J., Moore, K.N., Gazecki, S., Bottary, R.M., Milad, M.R., Song, H., Pace-Schott. E.F. (2018). Delayed fear extinction in individuals with insomnia disorder. Sleep. 1, 41(8). Pace-Schott, E.F., Zimmerman, J.P., Bottary, R.M., Lee, E.G., Milad, M.R., Camprodon, J.A. (2017). Resting state functional connectivity in primary insomnia, generalized anxiety disorder and controls. Psychiatric Research Neuroimaging, 265, 26-34.

Tony Cunningham / Dr. / Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston College
Abstract: While sleep's role in emotional memory processing is gaining increasing support, its effect on emotion regulation remains equivocal. Moreover, little is known about the link between emotional reactivity at the time of encoding and subsequent sleep-based emotional memory consolidation. This study examined whether sleep would potentiate, protect, or depotentiate measures of heart rate and skin conductance in response to scenes containing emotional and neutral objects, and assessed how these measures of reactivity would predict subsequent memory for the objects across delays of sleep and wake. Heart rate deceleration (HRD) and skin conductance response (SCR) data were collected at encoding and recognition. Although HRD and SCR reactivity to objects were depotentiated after a sleep-filled delay, they remained unchanged after a delay containing wakefulness. Moreover, increased arousal responses to negative scenes at encoding as measured by HRD and SCR responses were positively correlated with subsequent memory for the negative objects of scenes, but only in the sleep group. This suggests that larger reactions to negative images at the time of encoding set the stage for the preferential consolidation of these images during a night of sleep. Although arousal responses are often thought to account for emotional enhancement in long-term memory, these findings suggest that both an arousal response at encoding and a subsequent period of sleep are needed to optimize selective emotional memory consolidation.
Reference: Cunningham, T.J., Crowell, C., Alger, S., Kensinger, E., Villano, M., Mattingly, S., & Payne, J. D. (2014). Psychophysiological arousal at encoding leads to reduced reactivity but enhanced emotional memory following sleep. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. Cunningham, T.J. & Payne, J. D. (2017). Emotional Memory Consolidation during Sleep. In N. Axmacher and B. Rasch (Eds.), Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory Consolidation. Springer. Cunningham, T.J., Chambers, A & Payne, J. D. (2014). The effect of expectation on the selective processing of negatively arousing information across periods of wake and sleep. Frontiers Special Issue on Prospection.

Tara / Mrs. / Kryo Inc.
Abstract: Kryo Inc. is a sleep science and technology company focused on the future of sleep-driven health. The team at Kryo has designed the only effective full-body temperature-regulation sleep systems. Backed by 10+ years of research and hundreds of five-star reviews, Kryo empowers customers to follow their dreams (literally) with their 100 percent natural sleep options. Further, we want to engage the scientific community in the science of regulating sleep temperature. Our 3-year goal is to help 30 million people sleep better — one night of restful sleep at a time.
Reference: Remy R. Coeytaux, MD, PhD Caryl J Guth, MD Chair in Integrative Medicine Professor, Family and Community Medicine Director, Center for Integrative Medicine Wake Forest School of Medicine Co-Editor-in-Chief, Global Advances in Health and Medicine Email: rcoeytau@wakehealth.edu Mobile: 336-409-7531

Ho-Jun Suk / Mr. / MIT Media Lab
Abstract: Tools and technologies that enable non-invasive control of neural activity hold a great potential for serving an important role not only in treating neurological disorders, but also in modulating and possibly improving brain functions in the healthy brain. We have developed non-invasive brain modulation strategies that can either target a specific area inside the brain or simultaneously stimulate multiple brain regions. These strategies include non-invasive deep brain stimulation using temporal interference (Grossman et al., 2017) and modulation of brain oscillations using sensory stimulation. Temporal interference uniquely enables non-invasive stimulation of a specific brain region by utilizing multiple high frequency electric fields whose interference produces a prominent electric field envelope that affects the neural activity only at a desired location inside the brain. On the other hand, sensory stimulation relies on the natural neural pathways that are responsible for detecting and processing sensory information. Although previous works have shown that stimuli that target a certain sense can effectively modulate neural oscillations in the primary sensory area of the brain that is responsible for that sense, the effect of combining multiple sensory stimuli is not well understood. Our preliminary data shows combining multiple sensory stimuli can lead to a strong neural response at multiple brain regions. Given sleep and dreams have been closely linked to specific brain oscillations and activities at various parts of the brain, our non-invasive brain stimulation tools may become a useful tool for modulating sleep or dreams.
Reference: Grossman N, Bono D, Dedic N*, Kodandaramaiah SB*, Rudenko A, Suk HJ, Cassara AM, Neufeld E, Kuster N, Tsai LH, Pascual-Leone A, Boyden ES (2017) Noninvasive Deep Brain Stimulation via Temporally Interfering Electric Fields, Cell 169(6):1029-1041

Neo Mohsenvand / PhD Candidate / MIT Media Lab, Fluid Interfaces
Abstract:
Reference: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QuVcSV0nmfENOdIFavsAFzt-4goOvSxbRYBC7K0ZLtM/edit?usp=sharing

Pattie Maes / Professor / MIT Media Lab
Abstract: I will give an overview of teh Media Lab's research in cognitive enhancement and specifically focus on our efforts in engineering dreams to strengthen learning and support creativity.
Reference: https://www.media.mit.edu/articles/wearable-medical-tech-is-about-to-become-crucial-for-staying-alive/ https://engineeringdreams.net/

Pedro Lopes / Prof. / University of Chicago
Abstract: If we start to interface more directly and bidirectionally with the human body via muscle sensing (EMG) and muscle actuation (EMS), we are able to not only sense possible dream states but, in return, influence the physicality of the dream states/content by proprioceptive manipulation.
Reference: 1. VR walls: creating full body physical sensations such as walls and heavy objects in VR, CHI'17 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcSmCamMKfs 2. Muscle Plotter: transforms your arm into a interactive plotter by controlling your hand as to automatically draw onto paper, UIST'16 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On738nXm5AM 3. Affordance++: allows objects to communicate their use to people, even when the user is not familiar with them, CHI'15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz4dphzBb6I

Alexandra Kitson / PhD Candidate / Simon Fraser University
Abstract: Lucid dreaming, knowing one is dreaming while dreaming, is an important tool for exploring consciousness and bringing awareness to different aspects of life. We present a proof-of-concept system called Lucid Loop: a virtual reality experience where one can practice lucid awareness via biofeedback. Visuals are creatively generated before your eyes using a deep learning Artificial Intelligence algorithm to emulate the unstable and ambiguous nature of dreams. The virtual environment becomes more lucid or “clear” when the participant’s physiological signals, including brain waves, respiration, and heart rate, indicate focused attention. Lucid Loop enables the virtual embodied experience of practicing lucid dreaming where written descriptions fail. It offers a valuable and novel technique for simulating lucid dreaming without having to be asleep. Future developments will validate the system and evaluate its ability to improve lucidity within the system by detecting and adapting to a participants awareness.
Reference: Kitson, A., Schiphorst, T., & Riecke, B. E. (2018). Are You Dreaming? A Phenomenological Study on Understanding Lucid Dreams as a Tool for Introspection in Virtual Reality. In Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (p. 343:1–343:12). Montréal, Québec, Canada: ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/3173574.3173917 Kitson, A., & Riecke, B. E. (2018, June). Going Beyond: Lucid Dreaming as a Lens into Transformative Experience Design for Virtual Reality. Symposium presentation presented at the 23rd Annual CyberPsychology, CyberTherapy & Social Networking Conference, Gatineau, Canada. Kitson A., Prpa M., & Riecke B. E. (2018). Immersive Interactive Technologies for Positive Change: A Scoping Review and Design Considerations. Front. Psychol. 9:1354. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01354