Researchers at the University of Geneva in Switzerland have published a study in which they suggest that manipulating emotions in dreams can help treat people with chronic nightmares.
Nightmares can occur due to a range of events ranging from periods of stress, to medication use, and even as a result of trauma.
You or even someone you know may have recurring nightmares during times of stress.
However, according to research data, up to 4% of adults suffer from these dreams chronically, which may not be sincere.
Thinking about the emotions evoked by nightmares, scientists have proposed a combined approach to trying to treat this sleep disorder: manipulation of emotions.
Researchers have combined an approach already widely used in the treatment of nightmares, image rehearsal therapy (TRI) with directed memory reactivation (TMR).
The TRI recommends that the individual re-make sense of their nightmare images, transforming negative thoughts and feelings into something positive or tolerable.
TMR, on the other hand, helps by providing sensory input through sound by reinforcing the positive images created during TRI sessions while the patient is in REM sleep, the stage in which dreams occur.
The study invited 36 participants who were divided into two groups. The first held TRI sessions every night for two weeks.
The second group learned to associate reinterpreted images with a sound, in addition to daily IRT exercises. This sound was emitted by a headband throughout the night.
Researchers at the University of Geneva Hospital’s Sleep Lab noticed that both groups showed improvement in their nightmares.
But those who used the combination of TRI and TMR showed long-term improvement with a reduction in bad dreams even 3 months after the study.
According to Lampros Perogamvros, lead author and psychiatrist at Hospital do Sono in Geneva, “This finding is promising both for the study of emotional processing during sleep and for the development of new therapies.”
Source: Tec Mundo
I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.
