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Natraj Sitaram, MD; Angela M. Moore; J. Christian Gillin, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1978;35(10):1239-1243.

Abstract
• Physostigmine, an anticholinesterase that increases the action of brain acetylcholine, induces rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in normal humans. In this study we show that man dreams during physostigmine-induced REM sleep.

Seventeen normal volunteers were pretreated with methscopolamine and received one intravenous infusion per night of either placebo or physostigmine either ten or 35 minutes after sleep onset. Subjects were awakened at specific times after infusion and interviewed regarding any sleep mentation prior to awakening. Results indicated that dreaming occurred during physostigmine-induced REM periods but that physostigmine did not alter mentation during non-REM sleep. These dreams were similar to spontaneous REM sleep dreams in content, vividness, unusualness, and emotionality.

Author Affiliations
From the Biological Psychiatry Branch, Division of Clinical and Behavioral Research, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md (Drs Sitaram, Moore, and Gillin), and the Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Division of Special Mental Health Research, National Institute of Mental Health, St Elizabeth's Hospital, Washington, DC (Dr Gillin).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Jan 30, 1978.

Reprint requests to Unit on Sleep Studies, BPB, National Institute of Mental Health, Bldg 10, Room 3N224, Bethesda, MD 20014 (Dr Sitaram).

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