Effects of Performing Certain Set Tasks in the Lucid-Dream State
Perceptual and Motor Skills February 1, 1982 Keith M. T. Hearne
People who have lucid dreams (awareness of dreaming) often find it difficult to turn on an electric light in the dream scenery, suggesting a ceiling on imagery brightness. Attempts to violate this level lead to rationalized avoidance. Nine subjects who tried to switch on other electrical appliances also had difficulties. A lack of coordination between imagery modalities was noted, with a substitution effect observed in three cases where auditory imagery was absent—subjects automatically sang or made noise. Four of six subjects who closed their eyes in a lucid dream experienced a scene shift; one had the dream re-run; one experienced sleep paralysis. These consistencies challenge traditional dream interpretation approaches.