Can we induce lucid dreams? A pharmacological point of view
Firas H. Bazzari
University Library Heidelberg November 11, 2017 DOI: 10.11588/ijodr.2018.2.42462 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Lucid dreaming |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Argues that although lucid dreaming is scientifically confirmed, its mechanisms are incompletely understood and no efficient, reliable induction method exists; the authors propose that understanding neurotransmitters, dream-affecting drugs, and proposed supplements could point toward pharmacological induction of lucid dreams. |
Abstract
The phenomenon of lucid dreaming, in which an individual has the ability to be conscious and in control of his dreams, has attracted the public attention, especially in the era of internet and social media platforms. With its huge popularity, lucid dreaming triggered passionate individuals, particularly lucid dreamers, to spread their thoughts and experiences in lucid dreaming, and provide a number of tips and techniques to induce lucidity in dreams. Scientific research in the field of sleep and dreams has verified the phenomenon of lucid dreaming for decades. Nevertheless, various aspects regarding lucid dreaming are not fully understood. Many hypotheses and claims about lucid dreaming induction are yet to be validated, and at present lucid dreaming still lacks efficient and reliable induction methods. Understanding the molecular basis, brain physiology, and underlying mechanisms involved in lucid dreaming can aid in developing novel and more target-specific induction methods. This review will focus on the currently available scientific findings regarding neurotransmitters’ behavior in sleep, drugs observed to affect dreams, and proposed supplements for lucid dreaming, in order to discuss the possibility of inducing lucid dreams from a pharmacological point of view.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on lucid dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming | 2019 | Review | |
| My Dream, My Rules: Can Lucid Dreaming Treat Nightmares? | 2019 | Review | |
| What about dreams? State of the art and open questions | 2022 | Review | |
| The Dream of God: How Do Religion and Science See Lucid Dreaming and Other Conscious States During Sleep? | 2020 | Review | |
| Insight and Dissociation in Lucid Dreaming and Psychosis | 2018 | Review |