Comprehensive analysis of the dream content of people with blindness, using the Hall and Van de Castle system

Abstract

Dreams result from brain activity during sleep, and they can be similar to experiences during the day. The brain changes extensively in response to sensory deprivation to adapt to the environment. The main goal of this study is to analyze the content of dreams of blind people—those lacking one of the primary senses. A total of 135 dreams were collected from 17 blind people. Dreams were coded using the Hall and van de Kessel method. The frequency of each category in dreams was calculated and compared with sighted people. The reports of physical aggression interactions, misfortunes, and seeing activity were more common in the group of sighted people than in blind people, and non-physical interactions and good fortune were more common in blind people than in sighted people. The ratio of aggressive to friendly interactions in sighted men and women and blind men was over 50%. The frequency of success and failure groups was not significantly different between the two groups of sighted and blind people. The hypothesis of dream continuity could support some of the findings, and various dream elements may be connected to and impact one another, but further research is required to understand these relationships fully.