Extending mental practice to sleep: Enhancing motor skills through lucid dreaming
Medical Hypotheses March 27, 2023 Emma Peters, Sanne Golembiewski, Daniel Erlacher et al. 12 citations
Lucid dreaming—becoming aware of a dream while asleep—can be used to practice motor skills, potentially improving real-world performance. The brain generates an immersive, VR-like environment with realistic body sensations during lucid dreams. Experimental studies show promising performance gains after lucid dreaming motor practice, with similarities in brain activity, eye movements, muscle activity, and autonomic responses to physical practice. Surveys indicate athletes already incorporate lucid dreaming into training. Placebo effects and increased motivation after practice need further investigation. Challenges such as the rarity of lucid dreams, lack of proper training, and limited control over dream content must be addressed to strengthen this approach for broader use.