Consciousness and abilities of dream characters observed during lucid dreaming.
P Tholey
Perceptual and Motor Skills April 1, 1989 DOI: 10.2466/pms.1989.68.2.567 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Phenomenological experiment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 9 |
| Population | Male experienced lucid dreamers |
| Topics | Dreaming Lucid dreaming |
| Key findings | Dream characters in lucid dreams can perform various cognitive tasks, though arithmetic performance was poor, and nothing contradicts the assumption that they have consciousness in a specific sense. |
Abstract
A description of several phenomenological experiments is given. These were done to investigate of which cognitive accomplishments dream characters are capable in lucid dreams. Nine male experienced lucid dreamers participated as subjects. They were directed to set different tasks to dream characters they met while lucid dreaming. Dream characters were asked to draw or write, to name unknown words, to find rhyme words, to make verses, and to solve arithmetic problems. Part of the dream characters actually agreed to perform the tasks and were successful, although the arithmetic accomplishments were poor. From the phenomenological findings, nothing contradicts the assumption that dream characters have consciousness in a specific sense. Herefrom the conclusion was drawn, that in lucid dream therapy communication with dream characters should be handled as if they were rational beings. Finally, several possibilities of assessing the question, whether dream characters possess consciousness, can be examined with the aid of psychophysiological experiments.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on lucid dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucid Dreaming Verified by Volitional Communication during Rem Sleep Selected subjects proficient in lucid dreaming | 1981 | Experimental study | n = 5 |
| Lucid Dreaming and Alpha Activity: A Preliminary Report Good dream recallers | 1982 | Experimental study | n = 10 |
| Lucid dreaming during NREM sleep: Two case reports | 2012 | Sleep laboratory study | |
| Time for actions in lucid dreams: effects of task modality, length, and complexity Proficient lucid dreamers | 2014 | Experimental study | n = 21 |
| Combining presleep cognitive training and REM-sleep stimulation in a laboratory morning nap for lucid dream induction. Participants who came to the laboratory for a nap session at 7:30 am or 11:00 am,... | 2020 | Controlled laboratory experiment |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- The Phenomenology of Lucid Dreaming: An Online Survey The American Journal of Psychology April 21, 2014
- An exploratory study of creative problem solving in lucid dreams: Preliminary findings and methodological considerations heiDOK (Heidelberg University) 2010
- Lucid Dreaming: Intensity, But Not Frequency, Is Inversely Related to Psychopathology Frontiers in Psychology March 22, 2018
- Lucid dream mathematics: An explorative online study of arithmetic abilities of dream characters BORIS (University Library Bern) 2011
- Lucid dreaming: discontinuity or continuity in consciousness? University Library Heidelberg 2011
and 2 more in the library