Targeted Sound Cues During REM Sleep Boost Creative Problem-Solving in Dreams

New research from Northwestern University provides initial causal evidence that dreams occurring during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep can substantially advance creative problem-solving capabilities. The study, published in the journal Neuroscience of Consciousness on February 5, 2026, details a robust methodology for cueing dream content related to unsolved problems, underscoring the potential for engineering sleep states to enhance human insight and creative workflows.

Led by Karen Konkoly and colleagues, the experiment involved volunteers presented with complex puzzles requiring innovative solutions, such as arranging four trees equidistant from one another. Each puzzle was assigned a unique auditory "soundtrack." During the REM stage of sleep, researchers played the specific soundtrack corresponding to half of the unsolved puzzles to prompt participants regarding those specific problems, utilizing targeted memory reactivation (TMR) techniques where sensory input during sleep influences previously acquired memories.

The targeted cueing successfully influenced dream content, with 75% of participants reporting dreams incorporating elements of the prompted puzzles. Furthermore, participants who dreamt about the targeted problems demonstrated a significant increase in their ability to solve them the following morning, achieving a 40% success rate compared to only 20% in the control group that did not receive relevant dream cueing. Konkoly, the lead author, stated this offers "initial causal evidence that REM sleep dreams can promote creative problem-solving."

The findings are significant as they suggest that strategically influencing the sleeping mind could serve as a powerful, non-invasive tool for augmenting human creativity and insight. Senior author Professor Ken Paller noted the broader relevance, stating, "Many problems in the world today require creative solutions. Sleep engineering can help." The research builds upon prior work indicating that memory processing during REM sleep affects dream content and that dreams involving specific tasks may correlate with reduced negative affect and increased creativity.

Cognitive neuroscientist John Kounios of Drexel University, who was not involved in the study, described the findings as "fascinating," acknowledging the inherent difficulty in merging sleep and creativity research. Kounios, known for his work on the neural underpinnings of creativity and "aha" moments, previously emphasized that sleep can "supercharge creativity." The Northwestern team, which included co-authors Daniel Morris, Kaitlyn Hurka, Alysiana Martinez, and Kristin Sanders, demonstrated that dream cueing can be effective even without dream lucidity.

While the research focused on REM sleep, other studies have shown that TMR during slow-wave (non-REM) sleep can also enhance subsequent problem-solving, potentially by selecting memories for reorganization during the following REM period. Overall, these results reinforce the view of sleep as a priority for mental health and well-being due to its critical role in emotional regulation and problem resolution.