Dreams are strange places. No matter how strange or contradictory the content, most people dream without realizing that they are in a dream. However, this is not true for everyone, as lucid dreamers are able to perceive their dreams as they are. This is a desirable skill and there are now a variety of lucid dreaming apps available to help people optimize their sleep for a variety of reasons. But are they effective?
A new study by neuroscientists at Northwestern University shows that a specific method known as targeted lucid reactivation (TLR) can actually help people learn to lucid dream with minimal technical requirements. provided the first evidence that it helps.
Lucid dreaming is a bit of a superpower, and people like to use it for various purposes. For example, some people seek out properties like virtual reality for problem-solving or skill practice. In other situations, lucid dreaming is used therapeutically to help people deal with nightmares.
In the lab, lucid dreamers were able to confirm their dream recognition by transmitting specific signals to experimenters and answering questions posed during their sleep. This means that lucid dreams have important value for scientific research, not only for the study of dreams, but also for the understanding of consciousness.
But despite their appeal, lucid dreaming is rare. In one study, about 50 percent of people sampled had never had a lucid dream, but about 20 percent reported lucid dreaming at least once a month.
At the same time, there are rumors on the internet that people can be taught to lucid dream using strategies such as writing a dream diary, waking up for a certain amount of time at night, taking supplements, and rehearsing your intentions before going to bed. There are many resources to claim. Above. Some recommend practicing reality checks while you’re awake so you can practice them while you’re sleeping, but relying on wearable devices designed to provide specific sensory stimulation while you sleep Some people.
Although there are many options available, little research has investigated how effective they are, especially for homebound people without expensive technology.
In the new study, Professor Ken Paller and colleagues recruited 26 participants and then asked them a series of criteria. This includes whether you own an Android smartphone, whether you remember having at least 3 to 4 dreams a week, whether you sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours each night, and whether you wake up 2 hours before sleep. This includes whether you wake up and expect to be able to go back to sleep. It will happen normally.
Previous lucid dreaming experience was not part of the conditions for participation.
Of the initial cohort, 19 participants met all criteria. Next, subjects were given a smartphone app that applied the TLR method. TLR is an experimental method of lucid dreaming that combines memory reactivation and sensory cues to increase the likelihood of lucid dreaming. This technique generally involves using subtle sensory stimuli (sounds or gentle vibrations) during REM sleep that correspond to cues experienced during wakefulness.
Participants tested the app’s volume before going to bed to ensure it was detectable even when placed close to their pillow, rather than completely waking them up. The app provided coaching that included instructions for each participant to become aware of their physical, mental, and emotional states and gain detailed insight into their surroundings before they closed their eyes.
If participants woke up during the night, they were asked to explain whether the app was the cause. They also filled out nightly dream records.
To determine whether the TLR app was responsible for promoting lucid dreaming, or whether it was a result of anticipation or sleep disturbance, the second experiment focused on 120 app users. These people received training every night, while the control group received no dummy or sound cues during sleep on alternate nights.
They found that on the first night of the experiment, 17% of those who received the actual app cues were lucid dreaming. This also happened on the second night, but only 5 percent of the control group reported lucid dreams.
The evidence of lucid dreaming in the participants’ dream records was also interesting. One participant stated that at work, a colleague responded to a sound and identified what it was. In another example, one participant stated that while searching for the source of a sound in a dream, he realized that it was a cue and became increasingly irritated.
“This is a dramatic increase because for most lucid dreamers, even one lucid dream a week is considered a significant amount,” said Karen Concoly, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at Northwestern University. he said in a statement.
“The goal of this series of studies was to find out how many lucid dreams can be evoked with just a smartphone and set a standard that people can easily access.”
Paller explained that by being able to fine-tune our sleep, more people could change their chances of dreaming. “We take a sleep engineering approach to harnessing sleep for personal benefit, skill practice, problem solving, and spiritual and personal growth.”
Importantly, previous research suggests that experiencing lucid dreams can have a positive impact on your mood the next day.
“Some studies have shown that people frequently report an increased sense of well-being and reduced stress the day after lucid dreaming,” Konkoly added.
Paller said the next step for the study is to explore wearable options that allow participants to sleep better without being woken up by the device. This could help cue lucid dreaming while participants are experiencing rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is the time when they are most likely to dream or lucid dream.
This paper is published in Consciousness and Cognition.
