Virtual reality as a metacognitive training tool for lucid dreaming
Andrea Signorelli, Francesco Tormen, Bruna Dal Bianco, Nicola De Pisapia
Frontiers in Psychology September 28, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1924370 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 38 |
| Population | Participants with low previous lucid dreaming experience |
| Intervention | LucidDreamingVR sessions |
| Duration | 5-week program; eight VR sessions |
| Topics | Lucid dreaming Dreaming |
| Keywords | Cognitive training Dream consciousness Lucid dreaming induction Metacognition Open-monitoring meditation |
| Key findings | Dream-oriented VR training preceded by open-monitoring meditation was associated with more lucid-like dreams than standard training alone or unrelated VR exposure. The VR-experimental group reported 26 lucid-like dreams versus 11 in the control group and 4 in the VR-control group, with significantly higher rates than both (rate ratios 8.60 and 4.00). The authors suggest this approach may scaffold metacognitive monitoring from wakefulness into REM sleep. |
Abstract
IntroductionLucid dreaming (LD) involves awareness of being in a dream during REM sleep and depends on the reactivation of metacognitive and reality-monitoring processes. This study tested whether a virtual reality (VR) intervention designed to rehearse lucid-dream-relevant metacognitive routines increases LD rates beyond baseline training, and whether generic VR exposure produces similar effects.Materials and methodsThirty-eight participants with low previous LD experience completed a 5-week program of daily dream diaries and reality checks, assigned to: VR-experimental (n = 13), standard training plus eight LucidDreamingVR sessions preceded by brief open monitoring (OM) meditation; VR-control (n = 12), standard training plus eight LD-unrelated VR sessions; or Control (n = 13), standard training only. Dreams were classified as ordinary, semi-lucid, or lucid; semi-lucid and lucid dreams were treated as lucid-like.ResultsVR-experimental participants reported the highest number of lucid like dreams (26), followed by Control (11) and VR-control (4). A Poisson model with total recalled dreams as offset showed that lucid-like dream rates were significantly higher in VR-experimental than in VR-control, RR = 8.60, 95% CI [3.00, 24.64], p_Holm <0.001, and Control, RR = 4.00, 95% CI [1.97, 8.09], p_Holm <0.001. Responder rates showed a convergent pattern, with at least one lucid-like dream reported by 84.6% of VR-experimental participants, 61.5% of Control participants, and 33.3% of VR-control participants, showing that VR exposure alone was insufficient.Discussion/conclusionDream-oriented VR training preceded by OM meditation may facilitate LD by scaffolding metacognitive monitoring from wakefulness to REM sleep.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on lucid dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucid Dreaming Treatment for Nightmares: A Pilot Study Chronic nightmare sufferers | 2006 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 23 |
| Testing the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in lucid dreaming: A tDCS study Participants spending three consecutive nights in a sleep laboratory | 2013 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 19 |
| Effectiveness of motor practice in lucid dreams: a comparison with physical and mental practice Adults who completed an online experiment | 2015 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 68 |
| Pre-sleep treatment with galantamine stimulates lucid dreaming: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study Adults with high dream recall and an interest in lucid dreaming | 2018 | Randomized crossover trial | n = 121 |
| Studies with lucid dreaming as add-on therapy to Gestalt therapy Adults with nightmares (ICD-10: F51.5) at least twice a week | 2015 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 32 |
Citations in the library
Cites 25
- Lucid Dreaming: a State of Consciousness with Features of Both Waking and Non-Lucid Dreaming Sleep September 1, 2009
- 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
- Questionnaires and diaries as research instruments in dream research: Methodological issues. Dreaming March 1, 2002
and 20 more in the library