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The process by which self-awareness or subjective experience (consciousness) is maintained has been conceptually and phenomenologically associated primarily with the waking state. In the present study the authors investigate, through introspective reports, the existence and variety of self-awareness in dreaming and whether this phenomenon could, under certain conditions, be distinguished into primary and reflective consciousness. For consistency with theory and dreaming research, instead of reflective consciousness we used the term 'reflective awareness.' Findings indicate that self-awareness in dreaming can be found in its both primary and reflective modes. Phenomenologically, primary consciousness exists in four basic modalities: perceptual, experiential, cognitive, and memory-based recognition. Expressions of these primary consciousness modalities are accessible through introspective interviews during waking. Based on participants' statements, reflective consciousness (awareness) in dreaming was initiated by noticing positive and negative feelings and by personally defined oddities. These findings point to a possible oscillation between primary and reflective consciousness in dreaming.

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