Lucid dreaming is a rare phenomenon in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming. Baird et al. formally define lucid dreaming as when “one becomes aware that one is dreaming while remaining physiologically asleep and immersed within a dream environment that often appears strikingly realistic” (2018). Lucid dreaming typically occurs in REM sleep but is extremely challenging to experience on command and frequently. Additionally, it is difficult for many people to lucid dream frequently enough to study. Thus, lucid dreaming is an increasingly complex topic to research and collect data on. Fortunately, there are many researchers who are currently studying lucid dreaming and the science behind this rare phenomenon.
The reason people can lucid dream is largely unknown, especially from a neurobiological standpoint. A research study conducted in 2018 explored whether or not there is a structural difference between frequent lucid dreamers and non-frequent lucid dreamers. The analysis of the two groups’ structural and functional MRI showed that the frequent lucid dreamers had increased “resting-state functional connectivity between left anterior prefrontal cortex and bilateral angular gyrus, bilateral middle temporal gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus,” compared to no difference in brain structure within the control group (Baird). These results suggest that more frequent lucid dreaming is linked to the increased activation in the anterior prefrontal cortex, which is normally deactivated while sleeping as seen in the control group. Baird et al. also discovered that the frequent lucid dreamers showed increased “node degree and strength” compared to the opposite group. Based on these findings, it is indicated that frequent lucid dreamers have differences in both structural and functional components of their brain, specifically in the anterior prefrontal cortex.
Karen Konkoly et al. also studied lucid dreaming, but instead of focusing on the neurobiological aspect, the team attempted to foster communication between dreamers and researchers using eye movements or facial muscle contractions. Three out of the four research studies analyzed utilized eye movements for the output signals of the dreamers. In the experiments, dreamers were asked various questions to which the dreamers responded either with eye movements or facial contractions. For example, a dreamer would be asked the math question “8 minus 6” to which the dreamer responds with two left-right eye movements. Konkoly et al. additionally awakened the participant to obtain a “dream report” in which the participants would sometimes mention the questions they were asked while dreaming. However, it was found that some participants had a distorted understanding of what occurred during their dream. Some participants misremembered the question they were asked, or the answer they responded with. Thus, it is unreliable to base the results on the dream report alone. The results of the analysis provide an argument for the belief that there is no way to communicate with asleep individuals to further research the phenomenon of dreaming and the phenomenon of lucid dreaming.
The two research studies described both explore the realm of lucid dreaming. Benjamin Baird focuses on the neurobiological aspect whereas Karen Konkoly focuses on the communication aspect. It would be interesting to see both research methods combined to further study lucid dreaming. Studying the brains of lucid dreamers while they are communicating with researchers would further open the door into the field of dreaming and maybe provide more evidence towards the reason we dream, to begin with.
References:
Konkoly, K., Appel, K., Chabani, E., Mironov, A. Y., Mangiaruga, A., Gott, J., Mallett, R., Caughran, B., Witkowski, S., Whitmore, N., Berent, J., Weber, F., Pipa, G., Türker, B., Maranci, J.-B., Sinin, A., Dorokhov, V., Arnulf, I., Oudiette, D., … Paller, K. (2021). Real-time dialogue between experimenters and dreamers during rem sleep. Current Biology, 31(7), R352–R353. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3606772
Baird, B., Castelnovo, A., Gosseries, O. et al. Frequent lucid dreaming associated with increased functional connectivity between frontopolar cortex and temporoparietal association areas. Sci Rep 8, 17798 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36190-w
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