The effectiveness of lucid dreaming practice on waking task performance: A scoping review of evidence and meta-analysis.
Clarita Bonamino, Christopher Watling, Remco Polman
Dreaming July 28, 2022 DOI: 10.1037/drm0000209 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Scoping review with meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Lucid dreaming practice |
| Topics | Dreaming Lucid dreaming |
| Key findings | Lucid dreaming practice may improve waking performance of motor tasks, with an overall medium positive effect size of .483, though the effect was not statistically significant (p=.095). Dream environments can be suitable for practice, but perceptual distortions and dream distractions may impair performance. |
Abstract
A lucid dream is a dream during which the dreamer becomes aware of the fact that they are experiencing a dream. The higher awareness and cognitive traits which accompany lucid dreams offer individuals a unique opportunity to use this practice to rehearse waking skills. This scoping review aimed to summarise existing evidence on the effectiveness of lucid dreaming practice (LDP) on the performance of waking skills and employed a meta-analytical approach to estimate an overall effect of LDP. A total of seven studies were reviewed. Findings indicate that LDP can improve waking performance of motor tasks of a variety of nature with an overall medium positive effect size of .483 (p=.095). LDP environments appear to be suitable for the practice of such tasks however practitioners should be aware that perception may at times be distorted from wakefulness. Dream distractions may also be encountered which may impair dream practice and have a negative effect on subsequent performance. A lack of empirical evidence within the literature was identified. Challenges with conducting LDP research are discussed and recommendations for future research are proposed.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on lucid dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucid dreaming incidence: A quality effects meta-analysis of 50 years of research | 2016 | Meta-analysis | |
| A systematic review of new empirical data on lucid dream induction techniques. Peer-reviewed studies on lucid dream induction techniques | 2023 | Systematic review | n = 19 |
| The effectiveness of lucid dreaming therapy in patients with nightmares: A systematic review. Adults with chronic and recurring nightmares | 2023 | Systematic review | |
| Testing Precognition and an Altered State of Consciousness with Selected Participants in the Ganzfeld Participants selected for self-reported creativity, prior psi experience or belief, or... | 2020 | Prospective meta-analysis | n = 60 |
| The relationship between mindfulness and lucid dreaming: A systematic review. | 2025 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 12
- Extending mental practice to sleep: Enhancing motor skills through lucid dreaming Medical Hypotheses March 27, 2023
- Enhancing and advancing the understanding and study of dreaming and memory consolidation: Reflections, challenges, theoretical clarity, and methodological considerations Consciousness and Cognition June 27, 2024
- The clinical neuroscience of lucid dreaming. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews January 14, 2025
- Are we just dreaming? Research Directions Sleep Psychology 2025
- Advanced meditation, sleep, and consciousness science: An emerging frontier. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews August 1, 2026
and 7 more in the library
Cites 25
- Neural Correlates of Dream Lucidity Obtained from Contrasting Lucid versus Non-Lucid REM Sleep: A Combined EEG/fMRI Case Study Sleep June 29, 2012
- Lucid Dreaming Verified by Volitional Communication during Rem Sleep Perceptual and Motor Skills June 1, 1981
- The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews March 14, 2019
- Lucid dreaming incidence: A quality effects meta-analysis of 50 years of research Consciousness and Cognition June 20, 2016
- Frequency of Lucid Dreaming in a Representative German Sample Perceptual and Motor Skills February 1, 2011
and 20 more in the library