Investigation of the neurophysiological background of unpleasant dream experiences in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K15745
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52030:Psychiatry-related
• Research Institution: Shiga University of Medical Science
• Principal Investigator: Sumi Yukiyoshi 滋賀医科大学, 医学部, 客員助教 (10772923)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 睡眠障害 / レム睡眠行動障害 / 軽症幻覚 / 夢 / 夢を演じる行動 / 自律神経 / 脳波

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the unpleasant dream experiences of patients with isolated/idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) and the associated neurophysiological indicators. The main findings revealed the characteristics of brain activity immediately before dream enactment behaviors in the polysomnography of patients with iRBD. An increase in delta and gamma power, as well as enhanced connectivity primarily in the beta frequency band, were observed immediately prior to the dream enactment behaviors. These findings help to clarify aspects of neural activity from dream experiences to the actualization of behaviors.

Free Research Field

睡眠医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

特発性/孤発性レム睡眠行動障害(idiopathic/isolated REM sleep behavior disorder: iRBD) は、パーキンソン病やレビー小体型認知症の前駆状態と考えられ、数年から十数年の経過において大部分の患者が神経変性疾患に進展する。本研究は夢体験とその行動化に関連する病態の一端を明らかにした点で、学術的意義がある。また、本研究で明らかとなった特徴的な脳活動が神経変性の長期プロセスにおいてどのように変化するのかを検証することで、パーキンソン病やレビー小体型認知症への進展に関する新たな知見が得られる可能性がある。