THE EFFECTS OF A RECENT MATHEMATICAL EXPERIENCE ON REM AND NREM MENTATION.
Item
-
Title
-
THE EFFECTS OF A RECENT MATHEMATICAL EXPERIENCE ON REM AND NREM MENTATION.
-
Identifier
-
AAI8801727
-
identifier
-
8801727
-
Creator
-
KLEIN, DIANE NIEDERHOFFER.
-
Contributor
-
Steven Ellman
-
Date
-
1987
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Psychology, Experimental
-
Abstract
-
This research examined the effects of a recent mathematical experience on the mentation produced by twenty subjects during REM and NREM sleep over several nights in the sleep laboratory. Mentation from two Baseline Nights, three REM Math Nights, three NREM Math Nights, and a Recovery Night was evaluated. A scoring system was devised to detect representations of the mathematical experience in the sleep reports obtained. Incorporation of math and numerical content as well as representations of other aspects of the experiment in mentation were studied. The relationship of relevant dimensions of personality and cognitive style to the tendency to utilize math and numerical material in mentation was assessed.;The results indicated that a significant proportion of subjects' mentation reports were affected by the math experience. The appearance of direct representations of the stimulus experience proved to be a more sensitive indicator of experimental effects than more indirect representations. Both the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the reports corroborated the impact of recent experience on the cognition of sleep. The design of this study enabled observations to be made about the penetration and persistence of effects on mentation. Within nights there was evidence to confirm that the influence of recent events is experienced to a greater extent in the early part of the night. Over the course of each series of math nights the incorporation effects continued at about the same level. Only on the recovery night was there a significant decline in the expression of mathematical content in mentation.;It was found that subjects who incorporated mathematical aspects of the experiment were also likely to incorporate other references to the experiment. The incorporation of this material in mentation was explained in terms of various models of dream function. This study did not confirm the differences in REM and NREM mentation expected on the basis of differences in permeability and in the levels of thought of these two sleep stages. The personality data and cognitive measures included in the analysis did not show a strong relationship to the tendency to represent the math experience in mentation; however, recommendations were made for further assessment of the psychological characteristics involved in such effects.
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
-
Program
-
Psychology
