EEG microstates reveal distinct network dynamics in lucid and non-lucid REM sleep
Xinlin Wang, Emma Peters, Johannes Strelen, Nathan Lockhart, Michael S. Franklin, Stephen LaBerge, Thomas Koenig, Martin Dresler, Daniel Erlacher
Consciousness and Cognition April 13, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2026.104047 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 8 |
| Population | Lucid dreamers |
| Topics | Lucid dreaming |
| Keywords | Electroencephalography Sleep system call Dynamics music Food science |
| Key findings | Lucid REM sleep is characterized by increased microstates A and G, associated with emotional processing and default mode network, and decreased microstates B, C, and D, linked to visual processing, salience, and executive functions. |
Abstract
Abstract During lucid dreaming, the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming. In past years, numerous studies have explored the characteristics of lucid dreams, which link lucid dreams to vivid visual perception, positive emotions, and wake-like metacognition and executive functions. To determine brain network activity associated with the conscious experience during lucid dreaming, we analyzed 39 sleep recordings (non-lucid REM vs. lucid REM) with 32-channel polysomnography from 8 lucid dreamers, using EEG microstate analysis. We found that microstates A and G dominated during lucid REM sleep compared to non-lucid REM sleep, and microstates B, C, and D dominated during non-lucid REM sleep compared to lucid REM sleep. We explored the correlation of our microstate maps with previous findings based on topographical similarities of the microstate maps in our study. This suggests that in our study, microstate A might be associated with emotional processing, microstate B with visual processing, microstate C with salience network activity, microstate D with executive functions, and microstate G with the default mode network. Our results suggest that lucidity during REM sleep is associated with increased self-visualization, metacognition, and executive processing, along with decreased emotional processing and reduced default mode network activity. Additionally, we found the inverse relationship between the presence of microstates/networks associated with regions that serve specific functions and evidence for the function being used. This might indicate the inhibitory function of the EEG microstates during sleep. Our study provides novel insight into the distinct network dynamics in lucid and non-Lucid REM sleep.
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 |
| Neural Correlates of Dream Lucidity Obtained from Contrasting Lucid versus Non-Lucid REM Sleep: A Combined EEG/fMRI Case Study Experienced lucid dreamers | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 4 |
| 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 |
Citations in the library
Cites 29
- The Brain's Default Mode Network Annual Review of Neuroscience May 4, 2015
- Lucid Dreaming: a State of Consciousness with Features of Both Waking and Non-Lucid Dreaming Sleep September 1, 2009
- Dreaming as mind wandering: evidence from functional neuroimaging and first-person content reports. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2013
- Neural Correlates of Dream Lucidity Obtained from Contrasting Lucid versus Non-Lucid REM Sleep: A Combined EEG/fMRI Case Study Sleep June 29, 2012
- Lucid Dreaming Verified by Volitional Communication during Rem Sleep Perceptual and Motor Skills June 1, 1981
and 24 more in the library