Clinical Applications of Lucid Dreaming and REM Sleep

    The neuropsychology behind dreaming consists of many unknown influences and constructs that have sparked the interest of contemporary researchers. When we think about dreaming, we often think of make-believe scenarios and stories of our unleashed imaginations. Lucid dreaming, however, is a particular type of dreaming in which a person is consciously aware of their presence in the dream. This is mainly attributed to rapid eye-movement (REM), which is a sleep stage associated with increased brain activity and deep relaxation. REM sleep and lucid dreaming have been shown to allow for the possibility of two-way communication and interaction while asleep. This particular phenomenon is especially difficult to study because of the difficulty stimulating lucid dreams, and determining their validity. However, researchers have been able to make groundbreaking insights on the ability to induce lucid dreaming and the possible implications it may have. 

    Associations between REM sleep and real-time communication during lucid dreaming were researched by Konkoly et al. in their REM sleep study. Researchers induced REM sleep in participants who ranged in their prior experience with lucid dreaming, as well as patients with narcolepsy. In this study, researchers found that two-way communication during REM sleep is evident in participants' ability to compute mathematical operations, answer yes-or-no questions, or discriminate visual stimuli (Konkoly et al.). Successful communication during lucid dreaming is evidence of higher level neural activation, and the fine line between the outside world and our consciousness. 

    Though the possible implications of lucid dreaming can be revolutionary, there is an experimental limitation regarding the induction of lucidity. Konkoly et al. discuss many researchers attempts to stimulating lucidity, such as electrical and magnetic cortical stimulation and various auditory cues. In a research article by LaBerge et al., the researchers study the possibility of using acetylcholinesterase inhibition (AChEI) for cortical stimulation in attempts to increase the frequency of lucid dreaming. This particular experiment used varying doses of the AChEI, galantamine, and mnemonic induction of lucid dreams to measure participants' dream recall and cognitive clarity (LaBerge et al.). The induction of lucidity is helpful in increasing one's awareness during REM sleep, however, its implications regarding degenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Dementia are astounding. Lucidity, in terms of these conditions, is the phenomenon in which a patient with a degenerative memory condition suddenly becomes alert and clear-headed (Chan). Consequently enough, the AChEI, galantamine, is a drug used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. 

    There are a plethora of limitations in truly understanding the implicit nature of the brain, but increasing interest in these constructs are pushing us in the right direction. Taking a concept such as dreaming, and breaking it down to a molecular level of understanding helps researchers draw out clinical implications. The findings regarding lucid dreaming and REM sleep and their application to degenerative diseases can also be further studied to be able to extend out to clinical treatments for varying conditions. 

References:

Chan, Noreen. “Before the Light Fades: Terminal Lucidity and Other End-of-Life Experiences.” Medicine.nus.edu.sg, https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/newsletters/issue34/insights/before-the-light-fades-terminal-lucidity-and-other-end-of-life-experiences/. 

Konkoly, K. R., Appel, K., Chabani, E., Oudiette, D., Dresler, M., & Paller, K. A. (2021, 2 18). Real-time dialogue between experimenters and dreamers during REM sleep. Current Biology, 31(7), 1417-1427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.026 

LaBerge, S., LaMarca, K., & Baird, B. (2018). Pre-sleep treatment with galantamine stimulates lucid dreaming: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. PLoS ONE, 13(8), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201246