Skip to content

The effects of a two-week reflection-intention training program on lucid dream recall.

Timo Paulsson, Adrian G. Parker

Dreaming March 1, 2006 DOI: 10.1037/1053-0797.16.1.22 (opens in new tab)

Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational cohort Peer reviewed
Sample size 20
Population Participants in a lucid dream training program
Duration 2-week training program
Measures dream questionnaire, dream journal
Topics Dreaming Lucid dreaming
Citations 20
Key findings The two-week reflection-intention training program significantly increased both dream recall frequency and lucid dream recall frequency, though the authors caution that the small sample and possible subject bias may weaken external validity.

Abstract

Previous research in the field of lucid dreams has contained descriptions of several techniques for inducing lucid dreams, but there have been only a limited number of empirical studies designed to evaluate the effectiveness of these techniques. The present study investigated the effects of a two week training program using the reflectionintention technique which is specifically designed to facilitate both dream and lucid dream frequency and recall. The sample consisted of 20 participants whose dream recall frequency and lucid dream recall frequency were measured on three occasions using a dream questionnaire and a dream journal. The three occasions were: before the lucid dream training program began, during week 1 of the lucid dream training program, and finally at the end of week 2 of the program. A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant increase in both dream recall frequency (F2,38 = 22.09, p<.05) and lucid dream recall frequency (F2,38 = 5.96, p<.05). However, there are some statistical reservations concerning the small sample and possible subject bias that may weaken the study’s external validity. Tentative conclusions are presented concerning the efficiency of the lucid dream training program.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on lucid dreaming, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Lucid Dreaming: a State of Consciousness with Features of Both Waking and Non-Lucid Dreaming Student volunteers trained to become lucid and signal lucidity with horizontal eye... 2009 Observational study n = 6
Neural Correlates of Dream Lucidity Obtained from Contrasting Lucid versus Non-Lucid REM Sleep: A Combined EEG/fMRI Case Study Experienced lucid dreamers 2012 Observational cohort n = 4
Real-time dialogue between experimenters and dreamers during REM sleep. Individuals during REM sleep, including frequent lucid dreamers, a novice, and a... 2021 Observational study n = 36
Lucid Dreaming in Narcolepsy Consecutive patients with narcolepsy and healthy controls 2015 Case-control study n = 106
Metacognitive Mechanisms Underlying Lucid Dreaming Human participants split into high- and low-lucidity groups based on reported dream... 2015 Observational cohort

Citations in the library

Cited by 10

and 5 more in the library

Cites 3

Related reading

Explore topics

Dreaming Lucid dreaming