Dream research and interpretation have sparked the interest of many cultures around the world and have taken on many forms throughout history, ranging from culture-specific dream interpretation theories to more scientific dream theories such as that of Sigmund Freud and many others. Each method of dream research and dream interpretation all have one thing in common: To make sense of the seemingly abstract activity of the brain during sleep. Lucid dreaming is a phenomenon that has had groundbreaking research in recent years, and it is characterized by consciousness and full awareness of dreaming while in REM sleep. In some cases, this awareness gives dreamers the ability to make decisions in their dream to manipulate the outcome, while in other cases, dreamers just have the awareness that they are experiencing a dream.
REM sleep research conducted by Konkoly et al. allowed for communication in real-time with research participants in REM sleep, and by tracking eye movements, brain activity, and facial muscle signals, researchers could ask participants questions and receive accurate answers (Konkoly et al.). These researchers were able to induce lucid dreaming in the participants that did not have a history of lucid dreams, and the implications of this ability can be incredibly important in the ability to use lucid dreams as a form of PTSD symptom relief. Clinical psychologist Ursula Voss conducted a similar study in which she administered weak electric currents in order to induce lucid dreaming. She found that administering a frequency of 40 Hertz “...led [participants’] brains to produce brain waves of the same frequency...which triggered lucidity 77 percent of the time” (Hughes). As research continues to find effective ways to induce lucidity during REM sleep, newfound knowledge can allow researchers to extend their methods and findings into clinical practice.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric disorder that is often characterized by physical reactions to emotional distress that occured during a past tragic event. One of the most debilitating symptoms of this disorder is the frequency of uncontrollable, recurring nightmares that often result in severe physical distress. Data from The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs shows that, “Of those with PTSD, 71% to 96% may have nightmares” and that “...some survivors may have nightmares several times a week” (“Nightmares and PTSD”). Although this is one of the many symptoms of PTSD, current discoveries in dream research can offer some help in easing the nightmares that sufferers experience. Because lucidity during REM sleep allows people to manipulate the outcome of their dreams, this can be particularly useful for those experiencing recurrent nightmares and can allow them to change the trajectory of the nightmare they are experiencing. One example being that, “Once a nightmare has begun... the dreamer could be zapped with gamma waves, become lucid, and potentially change the circumstances of the dream to make it less frightening” (Hughes). Inducing lucidity during a nightmare, using electric currents or other methods, would give dreamers the control to make their dreams less overwhelming, which would cause great relief from the emotional distress that often results from the uninterrupted nightmares.
Although these strides in dream research have been made very recently, the clinical implications of these findings are incredible and can be extended into many areas of treatment. There is still more to be discovered in lucid dream research, but the recent research that has been conducted can already be extended into clinical care to help develop treatments for those suffering from recurrent nightmares.
References:
Hughes, V. (2021, May 3). Seeking roots of consciousness, scientists make dreamers self-aware. Science. Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140511-lucid-dreaming-sleep-nightmares-consciousness-brain.
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), 1417–1427.e6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.026
Va.gov: Veterans Affairs. Nightmares and PTSD. (2010, April 9). Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/related/nightmares.asp.
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