RECENT theoretical discussions about the function of dreaming have proposed that dreaming may be involved in the memory processes.1-3 The particular disturbance of recent memory which is characteristic of patients with Korsakoff's psychosis suggested that a study of the sleep and dream patterns of such patients might provide information in relation to this hypothesis. Furthermore, studies of stage 1 sleep in cats have shown concurrent highly activated patterns in the limbic and cortical areas.4 Because the lesion in the alcoholic form of Korsakoff's psychosis disrupts a major limbic-cortical Pathway,5 the possibility that this lesion has an effect on the dream process should be considered. (In this paper the authors are assuming that stage 1 rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is a reflection on dreaming in man. Therefore, stage 1 and dream time will be used interchangeably.)
With these as theoretical reasons for the study of Korsakoff patients,