Time required for motor activity in lucid dreams.
Daniel Erlacher, Michael Schredl
Perceptual and Motor Skills December 1, 2004 DOI: 10.2466/pms.99.3f.1239-1242 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractTime perception in lucid dreams mirrors waking life for mental tasks but slows for physical ones. Five experienced lucid dreamers counted and performed squats both while awake and during lucid dreams. Counting took about as long in dreams as in wakefulness, but squats required more time in the dream state. The findings suggest that cognitive processes maintain their waking tempo during lucid dreaming, whereas motor actions are prolonged.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 5 |
| Population | Proficient lucid dreamers aged 26-34 |
| Key finding | Counting in a lucid dream takes about as long as in wakefulness, but motor activities like squats take longer in lucid dreams. |
Abstract
The present study investigated the relationship between the time required for specific tasks (counting and performing squats) in lucid dreams and in the waking state. Five proficient lucid dreamers (26-34 yr. old, M=29.8, SD=3.0; one woman and four men) participated. Analysis showed that the time needed for counting in a lucid dream is comparable to the time needed for counting in wakefulness, but motor activities required more time in lucid dreams than in the waking state.