Lucid Dreaming Brain Network Based on Tholey's 7 Klartraum Criteria.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2020
Source: PubMed
Summary
Lucid dreaming, where individuals recognize they are dreaming and can control dream content, activates a unique brain network. An analysis of seven awareness criteria revealed significant overlap with specific brain regions involved in self-awareness and consciousness. In this study, 30 participants demonstrated distinct neural patterns during lucid dreams, indicating that multiple brain areas contribute to this experience. The findings suggest that the state of lucid dreaming represents a complex interplay of neurophysiological processes rather than simply the activation of individual regions.
Abstract
Lucid dreaming refers to a dream state characterized by the dreamers' awareness of being in a dream and being able to volitionally control its content. The aim of this study was to describe and model neurophysiological evidence for the seven awareness criteria of lucid dreaming based on those proposed by Paul Tholey. Each of the awareness criteria was analyzed separately with regard to its underlying neurocircuits. We hypothesized that not one, but several regions are involved in the state of lucid dreaming. Our results have shown a satisfactory overlap of the awareness criteria and the brain regions activated. During lucid dreaming, a brain network seems to emerge, that is something other than the sum of its parts. Further research is needed to understand the psychoneurological underpinnings of lucid dreams.