Attempted induction of signalled lucid dreaming by transcranial alternating current stimulation.
Cloé Blanchette-Carrière, Sarah-Hélène Julien, Claudia Picard-Deland, Maude Bouchard, Julie Carrier, Tyna Paquette, Tore Nielsen
Consciousness and cognition August 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2020.102957 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe neurophysiological basis of self-awareness during sleep (lucid dreaming) is still poorly understood. Previous work suggested that transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) during sleep could increase dream self-awareness, but methodological flaws in those studies motivated a new investigation. In the current study, both tACS and a sham procedure were associated with signal-verified and self-rated lucid dreams, indicating that situational factors, rather than the stimulation itself, may be critical for inducing self-awareness during sleep.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | transcranial alternating current stimulation sham procedure |
| Topics | Lucid dreaming |
| Keywords | Rem sleep Self-awareness |
| Citations | 20 |
| Key finding | Both transcranial alternating current stimulation and sham procedures were associated with lucid dreams, suggesting situational factors may be crucial for inducing self-awareness during sleep. |
Abstract
Neurophysiological correlates of self-awareness during sleep ('lucid dreaming') remain unclear despite their importance for clarifying the neural underpinnings of consciousness. Transcranial direct (tDC) and alternating (tAC) current stimulation during sleep have been shown to increase dream self-awareness, but these studies' methodological weaknesses prompted us to undertake additional study. tAC stimulation was associated with signal-verified and self-rated lucid dreams-but so was the sham procedure. Situational factors may be crucial to inducing self-awareness during sleep.