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Neural Correlates of Dream Lucidity Obtained from Contrasting Lucid versus Non-Lucid REM Sleep: A Combined EEG/fMRI Case Study

Martin Dresler, Renate Wehrle, Victor I. Spoormaker, Stefan P. Koch, Florian Holsboer, Axel Steiger, Hellmuth Obrig, Philipp G. Sämann, Michael Czisch

Sleep June 29, 2012 DOI: 10.5665/sleep.1974 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational cohort Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 4
Population Experienced lucid dreamers
Topics Lucid dreaming
Citations 271
Key findings Lucid dreaming is associated with reactivation of brain areas normally deactivated during REM sleep, including the bilateral precuneus, cuneus, parietal lobules, and prefrontal and occipito-temporal cortices.

Abstract

STUDY

Objectives: To investigate the neural correlates of lucid dreaming.

Design: Parallel EEG/fMRI recordings of night sleep.

Setting: Sleep laboratory and fMRI facilities.

Participants: Four experienced lucid dreamers.

Interventions: N/A.

Measurements: AND

Results: Out of 4 participants, one subject had 2 episodes of verified lucid REM sleep of sufficient length to be analyzed by fMRI. During lucid dreaming the bilateral precuneus, cuneus, parietal lobules, and prefrontal and occipito-temporal cortices activated strongly as compared with non-lucid REM sleep.

Conclusions: In line with recent EEG data, lucid dreaming was associated with a reactivation of areas which are normally deactivated during REM sleep. This pattern of activity can explain the recovery of reflective cognitive capabilities that are the hallmark of lucid dreaming.

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

  • State of the evidence: Lucid dreaming Supports

    Lucid REM sleep was associated with strong activation of precuneus, cuneus, parietal lobules, and prefrontal and occipito-temporal cortices compared with non-lucid REM.

    Synthesized

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on lucid dreaming, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Lucid Dreaming: a State of Consciousness with Features of Both Waking and Non-Lucid Dreaming Student volunteers trained to become lucid and signal lucidity with horizontal eye... 2009 Observational study n = 6
Real-time dialogue between experimenters and dreamers during REM sleep. Individuals during REM sleep, including frequent lucid dreamers, a novice, and a... 2021 Observational study n = 36
Lucid Dreaming in Narcolepsy Consecutive patients with narcolepsy and healthy controls 2015 Case-control study n = 106
Metacognitive Mechanisms Underlying Lucid Dreaming Human participants split into high- and low-lucidity groups based on reported dream... 2015 Observational cohort
Frequent lucid dreaming associated with increased functional connectivity between frontopolar cortex and temporoparietal association areas Individuals with frequent lucid dreams (≥3/week) and controls (≤1 lucid dream/year),... 2018 Observational cohort n = 28

Citations in the library

Cited by 145

and 140 more in the library

Cites 5

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