Dream Better, Feel Better

    The dream has been an intriguing concept amongst curious minds. Research studies inquiring about dreaming minds still have a lot of questions to answer.  

    Konkoly et al. had discussed the possibilities in studying dreams in a clearer spectrum to explore further implications of such research onto the field of psychotherapy. In their study on “Conversing with Dreamers in REM Sleep: New Strategies for Dream Science”, Konkoly et al. had communicated with participants during their REM sleep, experimenting whether they could achieve real-time communication with the dreamer.  This study emphasized the potential of similar research interests in developing an effective method in psychotherapy. In simpler words, using a dreaming period as a treatment method for individuals who suffer from trauma or phobia. It was also stated that memorization, learning, and cognition could be enhanced using a similar approach in dream studies. 

    In different research from Karen Konkoly and Christopher T. Burke, “Can Learning to Lucid Dream Promote Personal Growth?”, the researchers explore whether lucid dreaming helps an individual overcome reported stress and develop a sense of personal growth.  The latter research had explored how students could use lucid dreaming to feel better about themselves. The student participants were asked to report their lucid dreams and fill out questionnaires. However, the results of this research did not show a clear relationship between lucid dreaming and personal growth, the participants were reported to have felt satisfactory feelings during the study (Konkoly & Burke).  

    Research in dreaming minds could be more efficient in the future, with developing insight in the field of mindfulness. Mindfulness, when practiced effectively and for the long term, could help the participants in such studies to maintain a good, reliable lucid dreaming where they could easily shift the narratives and gain more control over their dreams during experiments.  

Konkoly, K. R., Appel, K., Chabani, E., Mangiaruga, A., Gott, J., Mallett, R., Caughran, B., Witkowski, S., Whitmore, N. W., Mazurek, C. Y., Berent, J. B., Weber, F. D., Türker, B., Leu-Semenescu, S., Maranci, J.-B., Pipa, G., Arnulf, I., Oudiette, D., Dresler, M., & Paller, K. A. (2021). Real-time dialogue between experimenters and dreamers during rem sleep. Current Biology, 31(7). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.026

Konkoly, K., & Burke, C. T. (2019). Can learning to lucid dream promote personal growth? Dreaming, 29(2), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.1037/drm0000101