The relationship between mindfulness and lucid dreaming: A systematic review.
Annemiek C. Balt, Marlon Nieuwenhuis, E. D. de Bruin
Dreaming (New York, N.Y.) March 31, 2025 DOI: 10.1037/drm0000303 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Dreaming Lucid dreaming Meditation |
| Key findings | The association between mindfulness and lucid dreaming frequency remains inconclusive, with meditation experience, lucid dreaming experience, dream recall, gender, and age identified as potential sources of inconsistency. |
Abstract
The relationship between mindfulness and the frequency with which one experiences lucid dreams is conceptually strong and can be grounded in the continuity hypothesis and in neuroscientific investigations. Only few studies have however been performed regarding this relationship, and comparisons are difficult to make due to methodological issues and discrepancies in results. This study aims to investigate the degree to which this relationship seems to exist and to determine potential factors accounting for the expected discrepancies to guide further research. For that aim, a systematic literature review was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science and PsycInfo. A total of 348 unique studies were screened, of which three studies (consisting of a total of six sub-studies) were included that matched the inclusion criteria. The studies were analysed through a narrative synthesis. The findings reveal an inconclusive association between mindfulness and lucid dreaming frequency. Factors identified as potentially accounting for the inconsistencies among the results were meditation experience, lucid dreaming experience, dream recall, gender, age. This review underlines the importance of pursuing future research that take these factors into account to enhance our understating of the relationship between mindfulness and lucid dreaming.