Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
February 1, 2021
Jarrod Gott, Leonore Bovy, Emma Peters et al.
33 citations
Lucid dreaming—being aware that one is dreaming while still asleep—is rare but can be trained by regularly questioning whether current experience is real or a dream. Virtual reality (VR) scenarios containing dream-like elements enhanced this training. Over four weeks, volunteers who received VR-assisted lucid dreaming training showed significantly greater increases in lucid dreaming than those who received no training. Eye-signal-verified lucid dreams during polysomnography supported these behavioral results. Potential mechanisms include synthetic dream-like experiences, incorporation of VR content into dream imagery as memory cues, and dissociative effects of VR that may amplify lucid dreaming training during wakefulness.
Scientific reports
September 21, 2022
Sofia Tzioridou, Martin Dresler, Kristian Sandberg et al.
10 citations
Nightmares are less frequent and less distressing for people who practice mindful acceptance—the ability to experience thoughts and feelings without judgment—rather than merely mindful presence, or paying attention to the present moment. Two studies, one with 338 participants and another with 187 frequent lucid dreamers who used meditation and lucid dream induction techniques, found that acceptance was more strongly linked to fewer nightmares and less nightmare distress than presence. People with high meditation expertise and practice of lucid dreaming techniques reported the lowest nightmare frequency. Among frequent lucid dreamers, more lucid dreaming was associated with higher mindfulness. The findings suggest that the two facets of mindfulness play distinct roles in dream quality, with potential clinical applications.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev
January 14, 2025
Sofia Tzioridou, Teresa Campillo-Ferrer, Jorge Cañas-Martín et al.
5 citations
Lucid dreaming, where the dreamer becomes aware of being in a dream and often gains control over it, can occur spontaneously or be induced by behavioral, cognitive, or technological methods. This review examines evidence linking lucid dreaming to conditions such as nightmare disorder, depression, anxiety, psychosis, and dissociative states, and discusses possible neurobiological bases for these associations. It also explores contemplative sleep practices like Dream/Sleep Yoga and Yoga Nidrâ that train lucid states during sleep. Potential drawbacks of lucid dreaming interventions are outlined, along with impacts on individuals without clinical conditions, contributing to understanding its therapeutic possibilities and implications.