Juggling the Limits of Lucidity: Searching for Cognitive Constraints in Dream Motor Practice

Lucid dreaming, where the dreamer is aware they are dreaming, could be used for motor practice, well-being, and nightmare therapy, but such applications require dream control. This investigation tested whether eight healthy participants (aged 24-50) could juggle—a complex motor skill—within a lucid dream. Four participants had lucid dreams, and two successfully juggled, demonstrating high dream control. Trait differences, including belief, motivation, and self-efficacy, appeared to influence dream control abilities. The small sample limits conclusions, but the findings suggest psychological traits play a role in dream control, laying groundwork for future research to optimize lucid dreaming applications in therapy, sports training, and cognitive science.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Lucid dreaming (LD), during which the dreamer becomes aware of the dream state, offers a unique opportunity for a variety of applications, including motor practice, personal well-being, and nightmare therapy. However, these applications largely depend on a dreamer's ability to control their dreams. While LD research has traditionally focused on induction techniques to increase dream frequency, the equally crucial skill of dream control remains underexplored. This study provides an initial investigation into the mechanisms of dream control and its potential influencing factors. We specifically examined whether a complex motor skill -juggling- could be performed within a lucid dream, creating a particularly challenging lucid dream task, which calls for a high level of dream control. Eight healthy participants (aged 24-50) underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) at the University of Bern's Institute for Sports Science, provided detailed dream reports, and completed questionnaires assessing dream control, self-efficacy, personality traits, mindfulness, motivation, and intention setting. Of these, four participants experienced lucid dreams, and of these, two demonstrated high dream control with successful LD juggling attempts. Trait differences between non-lucid and lucid dreamers in the lab were examined, with a focus on low-to-no dream control versus high dream control among the lucid dreamers. The two lucid dream juggling attempts are described in detail, providing insight into the challenges of executing complex tasks within a lucid dream. While this study lacks in sample size, it highlights the potential roles of many psychological traits, such as belief, motivation, and self-efficacy, in shaping dream control abilities. This study helps to lay the groundwork for future research aimed at investigating lucid dream control and therefore optimizing LD applications in therapy, sports training, and cognitive science.