Revisiting auditory-triggered reality checks in lucid dream induction: A sleep laboratory study
University Library Heidelberg March 10, 2026 Xinlin Wang, Johanna Heitmann, Lorenzo de Neri et al.
Lucid dreaming is a state where dreamers know they are dreaming and may control dream content. It offers a model for studying cognition during sleep and potential therapeutic uses, but reliable induction methods remain under investigation. This study combined Tholey's critical reflection technique with an acoustic cue to induce lucid dreams. Participants completed a two-day training on a reality-check task paired with the cue, then spent a night in the lab where the same cue was played during REM sleep. Of 15 participants, one reported a lucid dream meeting strict criteria. Future research should refine the experimental design.