Lucid dreams
Mark Blagrove, Julia Lockheart
February 1, 2023 DOI: 10.4324/9781003037552-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Topics | Lucid dreaming |
| Key points | Argues that lucid dreams are rare because the metacognition involved is fragile and short-lived, and because the personality, motivational, and neural bases for lucidity may themselves be uncommon; proposes that humans may have evolved not to be lucid in dreams. The chapter also raises unresolved questions about whether induction methods affect sleep quality and whether lucidity affects possible functions of dreaming. |
Abstract
The chapter begins with the text of a dream which includes themes of lucidity and control of the dream, told to us at an event at the University of California Los Angeles, and a painting of the dream and a commentary on its composition. Main content: The chapter describes how lucid dreams are a rare form of dream because the metacognition in them seems to be fragile and short-lived, and because the combination of personality, motivational and neural bases to them may also be rare. It proposes that humans may even have evolved to not be lucid in dreams. Training methods used to induce lucid dreams are described. However, although there are scientific, health and recreational benefits of lucid dreams, the chapter addresses the questions that have been raised about whether these methods might affect sleep quality and whether lucidity might affect possible functions of dreaming. Section headings: Frequency and characteristics of lucid dreams; Personality and individual differences of lucid dreamers; Inducing lucid dreams; Technological induction of lucid dreams; Drug induction of lucid dreams; What is happening in the brains of lucid dreamers?; Uses of lucid dreams; Communication between experimenters and lucid dreamers; Possible adverse effects of lucid dreaming.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on lucid dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varieties of Lucid Dreaming Experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Neurobiology of Consciousness: Lucid Dreaming Wakes Up | 2009 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| What I make up when I wake up: anti-experience views and narrative fabrication of dreams | 2013 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| New perspectives for the study of lucid dreaming: From brain stimulation to philosophical theories of self-consciousness | 2010 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Lucid dreaming: Evidence and methodology | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |