Lucid Loop: Exploring the Parallels between Immersive Experiences and Lucid Dreaming
DIS 2022 Proceedings of the 2022 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference Digital Wellbeing June 13, 2022 DOI: 10.1145/3532106.3533538 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 9 |
| Population | Lucid dreamers |
| Topics | Dreaming Lucid dreaming |
| Key findings | Lucid Loop, a neurofeedback-augmented VR experience, was perceived by nine lucid dreamers as accurately simulating lucid dreaming, particularly in emotionality and fluidity between self and environment. Participants noted differences where technology may be limited, and the authors propose design considerations for such simulations. |
Abstract
Lucid dreaming is the awareness of being in a dream, allowing dream control and living out fantasies. It also has benefits for growth and well-being. Yet, lucid dreaming is not accessible to most people. So, we created Lucid Loop—a neurofeedback-augmented immersive experience that utilizes AI-enhanced visuals and spatial audio in a virtual reality device for simulating lucid dreaming. We interviewed nine lucid dreamers who tried Lucid Loop and helped us propose design considerations: dreaming allusions, reality checks, focus points with neurofeedback, people in the scene, and immersion. Lucid Loop was like lucid dreaming because of its capacity for emotionality and fluidity between self and environment. Participants also noted several differences where technology might be limited. Lucid Loop appears to accurately simulate lucid dreaming, with implications for enhancing well-being and future applications for lucid dream training. Our research generalizes to technologically-mediated simulations of other emotive or internal experiences.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on lucid dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Level Control in Lucid Dreams Adults who experience at least one lucid dream per year | 2020 | Qualitative study | n = 107 |
| Dreamers as agents making strategizing efforts exemplify core aggregate of executive function in non-lucid dreaming Archived cross-cultural dreams | 2012 | Qualitative study using grounded theory | |
| Lucid music – A pilot study exploring the experiences and potential of music-making in lucid dreams. Musicians who reported lucid dreams involving playing instruments and singing | 2018 | Qualitative study | n = 5 |
| Exploring the range of reported dream lucidity Participants who implemented mnemonic training lucid dream induction methods at home | 2021 | Observational study with qualitative component | |
| Methods of Exploring Transpersonal Lucid Dreams: Ineffability and Creative Consciousness | 2020 | Mixed methods (quantitative, phenomenological, art-based inquiry) |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Psychedelic VR Experience: An Exploratory Study on Cosmic Flow November 9, 2022
- A predictive coding approach to psychedelic virtual-induced hallucinations and creative cognition in aging Frontiers in Human Neuroscience July 7, 2023
- Virtual reality as a metacognitive training tool for lucid dreaming Frontiers in Psychology September 28, 2026
- LuciEntry: A Modular Lucid Dream Induction Prototype CHI Extended Abstracts May 2, 2024
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