Limbic system function and dream content in university students.

This study explored the relationship between limbic system function and threatening dream content. Recently it has been proposed that dreams are an evolutionary mechanism designed to facilitate the rehearsal of coping strategies in dangerous situations. It is known that the limbic system is active both during times of threat and during REM sleep. Therefore, it was hypothesized that individuals with relative limbic hyperfunction, as indexed by increased scores on the Limbic System Checklist (LSCL-33), would report more threatening dream content. The data of the present research confirmed the hypothesis.