Cerebral Cortex
February 17, 2011
Philipp G. Sämann, Renate Wehrle, David Hoehn et al.
408 citations
As people fall asleep, the brain's default mode network (DMN) and its anticorrelated network (ACN) break down. In 25 healthy participants, functional connectivity between key brain regions—especially the posterior cingulate cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, and medial prefrontal cortex—decreased with deeper non-REM sleep. The loss of synchronization between the posterior and anterior midline nodes of the DMN, and between the DMN and ACN, suggests that preserved corticocortical connectivity is necessary for maintaining internal and external awareness. The posterior cingulate/retrosplenial cortex appears particularly important for regulating consciousness.
SLEEP
June 29, 2012
Martin Dresler, Renate Wehrle, Victor I. Spoormaker et al.
271 citations
Lucid dreaming—being aware that one is dreaming—is associated with reactivation of brain areas that are normally deactivated during REM sleep. In one experienced lucid dreamer who had two episodes of verified lucid REM sleep long enough for fMRI analysis, the bilateral precuneus, cuneus, parietal lobules, and prefrontal and occipito-temporal cortices showed strong activation compared with non-lucid REM sleep. This pattern may explain the return of reflective cognitive abilities that characterize lucid dreaming.
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
January 1, 2006
Victor I. Spoormaker, Jan Van den Bout
155 citations
A pilot study tested lucid dreaming treatment (LDT) for chronic nightmares. Twenty-three nightmare sufferers were randomly assigned to an individual LDT session, a group LDT session, or a waiting list. Twelve weeks later, nightmare frequency decreased in both treatment groups. Sleep quality and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity showed no significant changes. Becoming lucid during nightmares was not necessary for the reduction in nightmare frequency. The key therapeutic component—exposure, mastery, or lucidity—remains unclear.
Dreaming
September 1, 2003
Victor I. Spoormaker, Jan Van den Bout, Eli J. G. Meijer
54 citations
A series of eight participants received a one-hour lucid dreaming treatment session for nightmares, including exercises and discussion of constructive solutions. Two months later, nightmare frequency decreased and sleep quality slightly improved, but there were no changes in state or trait anxiety. The treatment appears effective for reducing nightmare frequency, though the specific mechanism remains unclear.
Frontiers in Psychology
January 1, 2014
Martin Dresler, Leandra Eibl, Christian F. J. Fischer et al.
52 citations
In frequent lucid dreamers, the experience of volition—the sense of control over one's actions—is similar during lucid dreaming and wakefulness, and both are significantly higher than during non-lucid dreaming. However, specific aspects differ: planning ability is strongest while awake, intention enactment is strongest during lucid dreaming, and self-determination is equally strong during wakefulness and lucid dreaming. These findings confirm that different higher-order aspects of consciousness, such as volition, are expressed differently across conscious states.