Dream Consciousness in Problem Solving
Imagination Cognition and Personality June 1, 1991 DOI: 10.2190/du8h-bbym-l31g-60c0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 46 |
| Population | College students |
| Key findings | Students produced a wide variety of responses with a normal distribution of dream thought when applying an operational definition of dream consciousness to problem-solving tasks, suggesting that dream thought can be consciously applied in the waking state. |
Abstract
The conventional paradigm for understanding dreams is to divide human experience into two realms: the sleep state in which dream thought appears and the waking state in which conscious thought appears. The study of lucid dreaming during the sleep state has challenged this dichotomy from the sleep component. Lucid dreaming can have conscious thought and control. The present report describes an experiment which suggests that the essence of dream thought may consciously be applied in the waking state. Forty-six college students were asked to apply an operational definition of dream consciousness to four problem solving tasks. A wide variety of responses were produced, and a normal distribution of dream thought was observed. The implications for considering dreams and conscious thought were discussed.