Stress-related biomarkers of dream recall and implicit memory under anaesthesia

Paola Aceto, C. Lai, Carlo Lai, Valter Perilli, Cinzia Dello Russo, B. Federico, Bruno Federico, Pierluigi Navarra, Rodolfo Proietti, Liliana Sollazzi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether auditory presentation of a story during general anaesthesia might influence stress hormone changes and thus affecting dream recall and/or implicit memory. One hundred and ten patients were randomly assigned either to hear a recording of a story through headphones or to have routine care with no auditory recording while undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Anaesthesia was standardised. Blood samples for cortisol and prolactin assays were collected 20 min before anaesthesia and 5 min after pneumoperitoneum. Dream recall and explicit/implicit memory were investigated upon awakening from anaesthesia and approximately 24 h after the end of the operation. Auditory presentation was associated with lower intra-operative serum prolactin concentration compared with control (p = 0.0006). Twenty-seven patients with recall of dreaming showed higher intra-operative prolactin (p = 0.004) and lower cortisol (p = 0.03) concentrations compared with those without dream recall. The knowledge of this interaction might be useful in the quest to ensure postoperative amnesia.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1141-1147
Number of pages7
JournalAnaesthesia
Volume68
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Keywords

  • HORMONES
  • STRESS

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Stress-related biomarkers of dream recall and implicit memory under anaesthesia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this