Awareness of time during sleep

Abstract

One cognitive ability that has been demonstrated in many people when asleep is the capacity to keep track of time sufficiently so that they can self-awaken when desired. Possible practical, physiological and evolutionary sources of this skill are outlined. Such findings help to establish the likely presence of significant cognitive ability when asleep.

Technology and Self-Regulation: The Case of Alarm Clock Use

“…Self-awakening at a target time without external aids involves a number of selfregulatory processes related to time-consciousness and arousal, and is believed to be a skill that most people can acquire (Moorcroft & Breitenstein, 2000;Moorcroft, Kayser, & Griggs, 1997). Awakening to be on time is a social skill insofar as it coordinates individuals' sleep-wake cycles with the schedules of families, school, work, transportation, and other social systems.…”