Flying dreams stimulated by an immersive virtual reality task.
Consciousness and cognition – August 01, 2020
Source: PubMed
Summary
Flying dreams, while fascinating, are rare experiences. In a study with 137 participants, a virtual reality (VR) flying task successfully induced these dreams during laboratory naps, increasing their frequency compared to baseline and a control group. Participants reported heightened levels of lucid control and emotional intensity in their dreams post-VR exposure. Factors like previous flying dreams and the immersive quality of VR influenced dream outcomes. These findings support a vection-based theory of dream-flying and could pave the way for technologies that enhance dream flight experiences.
Abstract
Despite a high prevalence and broad interest in flying dreams, these exceptional experiences remain infrequent. Our study aimed to (1) induce flying dreams using a custom-built virtual reality (VR) flying task, (2) examine their phenomenological correlates and (3) investigate their relations to participant state and trait factors. 137 participants underwent VR-flying followed by a morning nap. They also completed home dream journals for 5 days before and 10 days after the VR exposure. VR-flying successfully increased the reporting of flying dreams during the laboratory nap and on the following morning compared to both baseline frequencies and a control cohort. Flying dreams were also changed qualitatively, exhibiting higher levels of Lucid-control and emotional intensity, after VR exposure. Factors such as prior dream-flying experiences and level of VR sensory immersion modulated flying dream induction. Findings are consistent with a new vection-based explanation of dream-flying and may facilitate development of dream flight-induction technologies.