I did not expect to be dreaming: Explaining realization in lucid dreams with a Bayesian framework.
Consciousness and cognition August 1, 2021 Piotr Szymanek 4 citations
The common view holds that a lucid dream begins when the dreamer realizes they are dreaming. This article argues that such realization can result from actual reasoning, not a mere epiphenomenon. It builds a Bayesian model of probabilistic reasoning that explains how a dreamer transitions to lucidity, considering their beliefs about what is generally probable or improbable and their openness to being in a dream. The model is defended against objections and offers an account of lucid dream initiation relevant for future research on dreaming.