Associations between sleep variables and ostensibly paranormal experiences and paranormal beliefs: A scoping review.
Betul Rauf, Rotem Perach, Juan J Madrid-Valero, Dan Denis, Brian A Sharpless, Hope Farron, Christopher C. French, Alice M. Gregory
British Journal of Psychology November 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12655 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Scoping review Cross-sectional Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 44 |
| Population | Studies on sleep and ostensibly paranormal experiences and beliefs |
| Topics | Lucid dreaming |
| Keywords | Anomalous Parasomnias Sleep disturbance Sleep paralysis Supernatural |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | Sleep paralysis, lucid dreams, nightmares, and hypnagogic hallucinations are positively associated with ostensibly paranormal experiences and paranormal beliefs. |
Abstract
Night-time is a period of great significance for many people who report paranormal experiences. However, there is limited understanding of the associations between sleep variables and seemingly paranormal experiences and/or beliefs. The aim of this review is to improve our understanding of these associations while unifying a currently fragmented literature-base into a structured, practical review. In this pre-registered scoping review, we searched for relevant studies in MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO (EBSCO), Web of Science and EMBASE using terms related to sleep and ostensibly paranormal experiences and beliefs. Forty-four studies met all inclusion criteria. All were cross-sectional and most investigated sleep paralysis and/or lucid dreaming in relation to ostensibly paranormal experiences and paranormal beliefs. Overall, there were positive associations between many sleep variables (including sleep paralysis, lucid dreams, nightmares, and hypnagogic hallucinations) and ostensibly paranormal experiences and paranormal beliefs (including those of ghosts, spirits, and near-death experiences). The findings of this review have potential clinical implications such as reducing misdiagnosis and treatment development and provide foundations for further research. Our findings also highlight the importance of understanding why so many people report 'things that go bump in the night'.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on lucid dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming | 2019 | Review | |
| My Dream, My Rules: Can Lucid Dreaming Treat Nightmares? | 2019 | Review | |
| What about dreams? State of the art and open questions | 2022 | Review | |
| The Dream of God: How Do Religion and Science See Lucid Dreaming and Other Conscious States During Sleep? | 2020 | Review | |
| Insight and Dissociation in Lucid Dreaming and Psychosis | 2018 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 36
- Near-Death Experiences and the Temporal Lobe Psychological Science March 24, 2004
- A systematic review of variables associated with sleep paralysis Sleep Medicine Reviews June 8, 2017
- The body unbound: Vestibular–motor hallucinations and out-of-body experiences Cortex June 6, 2008
- Does the arousal system contribute to near death experience? Neurology April 10, 2006
- Terror and bliss? Commonalities and distinctions between sleep paralysis, lucid dreaming, and their associations with waking life experiences Journal of Sleep Research July 27, 2016
and 31 more in the library