D and K Homework Questions

Monday 03.02.14

Dement and Kleitmans study on sleep linked to REM activity to dreaming. Describe two pieces of evidence that supported this link. (4)

1. REM correlates to EEG patterns ~ Participants were woken 5 or 15 mins in REM and asked to estimate duration of dream. These results suggested a strong correlation between estimates and REM times as most subjects could usually estimate the times correctly

Participants recalled dreams when showing they were in REM ~ although there were a few recall of dream in non-REM, these could be consider outliers

2. There was a high number of participants that showed no dream recall when in non REM suggesting that dreaming occurred whilst in REM

In the study by Dement and Kleitman there was some evidence that dreams also occurred in NREM sleep. Explain how they collected this evidence (2)

As woken at random times throughout the night….Some participants recalled dreams when the EEG machine they were in non – REM

How did they explain the dreams being reported in NREM sleep? (2)

Dream recall in N-REM awakenings occurred within eight minutes of an REM ~ suggesting that the dream might have been remembered from the previous REM

Dement and Kleitman used an electroencephalogram (EEG) to record sleep activity. Explain what the EEG shows (2)

1. 2 electrodes near eye (record muscle activity) 2. 2 or 3 others record brain activity

Describe one limitation of using EEG to investigate dreaming (2)

1. Can not accuratly measure dreams ~ only activity (muscle, brain etc) suggesting dreaming

Identify two of the controls used by Dement and Kleitman in their study. (2)

• Dream recall was tape recorded ~ to avoid experimenter effects

• Could be suggested that the way in which they were woken was ‘random’ again to avoid experimenter effects

• EEG = standardised equipment

Outline why controls are used in psychological research (2)

• Prevent researcher bias• Compare and contrast results• Standardised measurements

In Dement and Kleitmans study participants were told to abstain from two substances on the day of the experiment. Identify these two substances. (2)

• Caffeine• Alcohol

Outline one problem with these instructions (2)

• Any control over these?? • Do the participants normally have caffeine or alcohol??

Identify one of the hypotheses of Dement and Kleitmans study on sleep and dreaming. (2)

• Does dream recall correlate to REM?• Is there a correlation between REM duration and

estimates of dream length• Is REM connected to content of dreams?

Outline the results of this study in relation to the hypothesis mentioned. (2)

• Does dream recall correlate to REM?– reports of dreams correlates strongly to REM sleep, REM correlated to

EEG patterns• Is there a correlation between REM duration and estimates of dream

length?– strong correlation between estimates and REM times, i.e. most

subjects could usually estimate times accurately • Is REM connected to content of dreams?

– vertical eye movement > operating a hoist– Horizontal > throwing tomatoes– Both vertical & horizontal > talking to people close to them (friends)– Very little or no movement > staring at fixed objects.

Results….

• Mark out of 24…o 24 ~ Ao 22 ~ Bo 20 ~ Co 18 ~ Do 16 ~ E

Below 16, please PLEASE read over the study TONIGHT