Lucid dreaming is a unique state in which the dreamer is aware they are dreaming and can exert some degree of control over the dream's direction and content.
How does it work?
Sleep is divided into several stages, including light sleep, deep sleep, and rapid eye movement (REM), where lucid dreaming occurs. During REM sleep, the brain exhibits a unique blend of heightened activity and decreased frontal lobe inhibition.
The frontal lobes are responsible for logical reasoning, decision-making, and self-awareness. In lucid dreams, the frontal lobe’s activation allows dreaming and logic to work simultaneously, enabling the dreamer to be conscious of their dream state and gain volitional control over the dream narrative.
How can lucid dreaming be achieved?
Lucid dreaming can be achieved through ‘reality testing’, where individuals deliberatively conduct certain gestures to question their reality during waking hours (ie. clenching their fists or checking the time). This habit carries over to the dream state, increasing the likelihood of recognizing the dream state when performing the same gesture, thus gaining consciousness of a dream (more in THIS video).
Another approach involves mnemonic induction of lucid dreams (MILD), where individuals repeat a mantra or affirmation before sleep, intending to remember that they are dreaming and become lucid during the dream. These techniques, combined with maintaining a dream journal and practicing meditation, can enhance one's ability to experience lucid dreams.
Potential applications
The possibility of controlling the mind even in sleep has led researchers to consider lucid dreaming’s therapeutic applications, such as treating nightmares, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One study showed that lucid dreaming exercises caused a group of chronic nightmare sufferers to have nightmares less often. Moreover, lucid dreams can be used to expand conscious boundaries to enhance creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Reference List
Baird, B., Mota-Rolim, S.A. and Dresler, M. (2019). The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming. Neuroscience & biobehavioral reviews/Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, [online] 100, pp.305–323. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.008.
Lambert, K. and Bos, S. (2023). How to Lucid Dream. [online] HowStuffWorks. Available at: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/lucid-dreaming.htm [Accessed 9 Jun. 2024].
Tech, I. (2018). How Lucid Dreaming Works. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH-MGqokk_Y&ab_channel=InsiderTech [Accessed 9 Jun. 2024].
Comments