Effects of Performing Certain Set Tasks in the Lucid-Dream State

People who have lucid dreams (awareness of dreaming) often find it difficult to turn on an electric light in the dream scenery, suggesting a ceiling on imagery brightness. Attempts to violate this level lead to rationalized avoidance. Nine subjects who tried to switch on other electrical appliances also had difficulties. A lack of coordination between imagery modalities was noted, with a substitution effect observed in three cases where auditory imagery was absent—subjects automatically sang or made noise. Four of six subjects who closed their eyes in a lucid dream experienced a scene shift; one had the dream re-run; one experienced sleep paralysis. These consistencies challenge traditional dream interpretation approaches.

Study at a glance

Abstract

A group of 70 persons (16 males, 54 females) who experience lucid dreams (those in which the dreamer becomes aware of dreaming) were given set tasks to perform in the lucid state and asked to report what happened. A pilot study had indicated certain consistencies of effect between subjects. Evidence was obtained, based on the reports of 16 persons, to suggest that it is often difficult to ‘switch on an electric light’ in the lucid dream scenery. A varying ceiling-level of imagery ‘brightness’ is hypothesized. It is suggested that any attempt to violate the current level results in rationalized avoidance of the planned situation. Difficulties were also experienced by the 9 subjects who tried to ‘switch on an electrical appliance’ (other than a light). An apparent lack of co-ordination between the imagery modalities was noted. It is suggested that the modalities may be relatively independent in the dream and that priority of effect can shift between the imagery forms. A ‘substitution effect’ was observed in the 3 cases for whom auditory imagery was lacking at a crucial point. The persons reported singing or making a noise automatically as if to compensate. Four of the 6 persons instructed to ‘cover or “close” your eyes in a lucid dream’ stated that a scene-shift resulted. Another subject reported that the dream re-ran. A sixth person experienced sleep-paralysis. Such consistencies of effect in dreams have not been taken into account by the various schools of ‘dream interpretation’ and so could have led to erroneous ‘analyses.’