Within the realm of sleep and dream studies, the scientific community has noted the apparent discrepancies that become evident regarding dream reports in that when individuals awake from their dreams, they have the general tendency to misinterpret and/ or forget the events they just experienced while asleep. In the article, Real-time dialogue between experimenters and dreams during REM sleep, Konkoly, and colleagues attempt to bridge this gap by focusing on the potential of dreaming individuals logically perceiving and responding to questions while simultaneously asleep in a laboratory setting. They created a two-way communication study utilizing polysomnography technology in an attempt to bring forward real-time lucid dream communication through means of distorted reality trials throughout the duration of REM sleep. Konkoly et. al were able to come to the conclusion that cognitive characteristics of lucid dreaming are in fact able to be manipulated and cross-examined instantaneously while an individual is still experiencing the dream at hand.
With this field of research gaining recent attention due to the ramifications of extra free time during the lockdown and people having more time to dream, scientists have posed the question: could the manipulation of lucid dreaming potentially give rise to restorative treatment regarding an individual’s mental health? Or, on the other hand, would tackling the psyche be too risky and unintentionally harm one’s internal mindset and wellbeing? In the article, Does Lucid Dreaming Help Your Mental Health or Harm It? Experts Weigh In, Karen Sosnoski expanded on the under-researched emotional ramifications behind lucid dreaming. She notes how researchers commonly utilize electroencephalograms in order to track signals prompted throughout the duration of lucid dreaming within the prefrontal cortex, given that it is predominately connotated with the progression of personality traits. A 2018 study came to the conclusion that lucid dreamers have the tendency to display elevated levels of resting-state communication- specifically between the frontopolar cortex and the temporoparietal junction. These heightened connections enable the individual to more efficiently incorporate elements of their waking life into their dreams and sometimes even gain control of their actions within this alternate reality. An International Dream Research Survey analyzed the responses brought forward from a group of 528 lucid dreamers. These individuals reported utilizing the practice of lucid dreaming for spiritual growth, solving problems, and emotional healing. Additionally, in the article, What are lucid dreams, and are they clinically significant?, Naveed Saleh reflects on the potential medical implications behind active dreaming. Researchers at the Institute for Consciousness and Dream Research conducted a separate study in which they explore the potential for lucid dreaming to serve as a treatment for patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. As established by the patient’s self-assessments, lucid dream therapy resulted in an overall decrease in anxiety and depression over the course of the trials.
In line with COVID-19, lucid dream researcher Daniel Love states that the pandemic has encouraged “a new influx of dream explorers.” Taking into consideration that individuals around the world faced a prolonged duration of time spent within their homes, it unintentionally fostered an introspective environment where people were left alone with their thoughts. Mankind throughout the dawn of time has been subjected to the phenomena of dreaming and the thematic representations and imagery conjured by our thoughts yield great levels of curiosity. Scientists have recently begun to further explore the various techniques by which an individual’s dream activity can be properly analyzed and manipulated. As noted by Konkoly et. al, communication within a state of sleep is entirely feasible and its potential is rapidly on the rise. This field of research could broaden the scientific communities’ awareness in regard to the personal human condition and the significance of one’s mental and emotional health as displayed by manifestations while dreaming. This practice holds a vast realm of potential regarding interactive dreaming having therapeutic implications.
References:
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
Naveed, Saleh. “What Are Lucid Dreams, and Are They Clinically Significant?” MDLinx, 14 Jan. 2019, https://www.mdlinx.com/article/what-are-lucid-dreams-and-are-they-clinically-significant
Sosnoski, Karen. “This Is How Lucid Dreaming Affects Your Mental Health.” Healthline, Healthline Media,19 Aug. 2021, https://www.healthline.com/health/lucid-dreaming-the-latest-on-its-mental-health-benefits-and-risks.
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