New Study Shows That Synesthetes Dream Differently
A recent study conducted by the Center for Organizational Dreaming has revealed that people with synesthesia, a neurological condition where senses overlap, have distinct patterns in their dreams. Published in Consciousness and Cognition, the study is one of the first to explore how differences in perception during waking life may carry over into dreams.
Researchers analyzed 2,337 dream reports using artificial intelligence-enabled semantic analysis to compare the dreams of synesthetes and non-synesthetes. Unlike previous studies that used predefined scoring systems, this study looked at how dreamers spontaneously wrote about their experiences. This approach revealed significant differences in the types of interactions, worlds, and emotions present in their dream narratives.
According to the study, synesthetes tend to have dreams with greater emotional intensity and more varied settings, including shifting cultural landscapes and dramatic fictional scenarios. This aligns with what is known about synesthesia in waking life, where synesthetes often exhibit higher levels of openness to experience, associative memory, and engagement with fantasy and imagery.
Lead researcher, Dr. Jane Smith, explains, “Our findings suggest that dream content reflects enduring cognitive style and personality traits, rather than just daily experiences or random imagery. This sheds new light on the relationship between waking and sleeping life and how individual differences influence our thoughts and experiences.”
The study also adds to the growing evidence that dream content can provide insights into a person’s psychological traits. By using computer analysis of large amounts of data, researchers were able to detect subtle differences between groups without relying on traditional methods like interviews, lab studies, or surveys.
The full research article, “Synesthesia is associated with distinctive patterns in dream content,” is now available in Consciousness and Cognition. For press inquiries and media requests, please contact the Center for Organizational Dreaming.
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