Is Lucid Dreaming Real? What Science Says
Is lucid dreaming real or just another imagined concept? Many have had doubts about phenomena like astral projection, lucid dreaming, and reality shifting. Lucid dreaming in particular promises a world of limitless exploring while asleep, in addition to other compelling benefits. But how real is it?
Lucid dreaming – the practice of being aware while dreaming and even controlling the dream narrative – is real. It is a practice going back thousands of years and has been scientifically proven to occur. There are even studies showing that lucid dreaming therapy can help with conditions such as PTSD.
To fully answer this question, we’ll look at what current studies say about lucid dreaming, as well as some personal accounts. We will also address common skepticism for a balanced view of the topic.
In short, yes, lucid dreaming is real.
What is Lucid Dreaming?
Lucid dreaming is when a person becomes conscious in a dream and realizes that they are dreaming.
The brain remains active even when you go to sleep, and people spend about two hours dreaming every night. You also have several dreams in your sleep, every night, even though you may not remember any of them when you wake up.
Usually you are not aware that you are dreaming, but it is possible to become lucid while dreaming and realize that what you see is a dream. This may happen intentionally or unintentionally. About 50% of the population will have at least one lucid dream in their lifetime, and many report having numerous lucid dreams each month.
Beyond passively observing dreams, some lucid dreamers can control the direction and content too.
Evidence Supporting Lucid Dreaming
It’s easy to dismiss lucid dreaming as just another concept based on illusions and imagination. However, it has been scientifically proven by multiple studies.
Scientific Studies About Lucid Dreaming
The term “lucid dream” was coined by Frederik van Eeden, a Dutch psychiatrist. The concept was well-known by the 20th century.
Dr. Keith Hearne figured that since a lucid dreamer is fully aware, they might be able to communicate with someone in the waking world while still dreaming. Lucid dreams mainly occur during the REM stage. At this point, limbs are temporarily paralyzed but eye muscles are not. So the dreamer can make eye movements.
In 1975, Hearne was finally able to record signals from a lucid dream while monitoring Alan Worsley, an experienced lucid dreamer. He achieved this using an electrooculogram or EOG.
Stephen LaBerge has also conducted several studies proving that it’s possible to be lucid while dreaming. In one of the studies, scientists asked participants to perform voluntary eye movements once they became aware they were dreaming.
The subjects were able to do this successfully while in uninterrupted REM sleep. LaBerge has also conducted studies where the subjects performed dream singing and counting.
In yet another study, researchers had real-time dialogue with lucid dreamers in REM sleep. The participants received information, analyzed it, and gave replies. They correctly answered questions, all while still asleep in a lucid dream. According to the researchers, this ability to attain lucidity and communicate while dreaming can help to further understand dreams in general.
There are more studies like these, showing that people can become fully conscious while dreaming. They become aware that they are in a dream, remember their waking life, and can communicate with the waking world. They do this while still being deep in REM sleep.
Scientifically Backed Benefits of Lucid Dreaming
Studies about the benefits of lucid dreams also confirm that lucid dreaming is a real thing. They further show that lucid dreaming can have benefits in waking life.
Lucid dreaming therapy (LDT) has been suggested as a potentially effective method of treating nightmares, especially in PTSD patients. In studies to determine whether this is true, the participants are taught to induce lucid dreams and control the content. In PTSD patients, lucid dreaming has proven effective in significantly reducing anxiety and depression.
A recently published study sought to examine the effects, negative or positive, of lucid dreaming. The conclusion was that lucid dreaming can be useful in treating sleeping disorders such as nightmares. This is especially true with high-control lucid dreams.
Anecdotal Evidence
In addition to scientific evidence, we also have to consider the overwhelming anecdotal evidence supporting lucid dreaming.
Personal Accounts
When it comes to personal accounts, it is difficult to distinguish what is real and what is made up. But it is hard to ignore the large and still growing community of lucid dreamers globally.
The Reddit lucid dreaming community, for instance, has over half a million members. They share experiences and resources about the practice. There are thousands of posts about learning to lucid dream, common struggles, success stories, and more. For the most part, the subreddit is fact-based and objective.
Other interesting accounts are from famous people who claim to have had lucid dreams. For some, their lucid dreams have even influenced their works. Richard Feynman, a popular 20th-century scientist, talked about lucid dreaming in his memoir. Billie Eilish has an album that she says was inspired by her lucid dreams.
Cultural Beliefs
Lucid dreaming is not a New Age phenomenon that started recently. It goes back thousands of years. There is evidence to show that ancient cultures understood and even practiced lucid dreaming. One example is dream yoga, an ancient Buddhist practice.
Skepticism and Controversy
The concept of lucid is not without criticism. Some people have said that lucid dreaming does not actually happen when one is sleeping. They argue that the dreamer experiences a brief moment of wakefulness.
However, researchers use physiological measurements in their lucid dreaming studies. In all the referenced studies above, these measurements confirmed that the participants were indeed in REM sleep.
Others say that dream reports are not accurate enough to rely on. When someone says they had a certain dream, you have to believe them. There is no way to verify the information.
There is indeed no way to verify someone’s dream content. That said, researchers have been able to verify that people can achieve awareness while deep in REM sleep, the stage commonly associated with dreams. They can also understand their waking life conditions and communicate with experimenters without waking up.
In one of Laberge’s studies, they were able to perform actions like singing and counting in their dream, enough for researchers to figure out which part of the brain was more active during a certain dream action.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lucid Dreaming
What Triggers Lucid Dreams?
It is not yet clear what triggers unintentional lucid dreams. Some people may lucid dream due to sleep disorders and other conditions. You can also trigger lucid dreams using a lucid dreaming technique like WILD or by taking certain substances.
Is There Actually a Way to Lucid Dream?
Yes, there are ways to make yourself lucid dream. WILD, MILD, and Wake-Back-to-Bed are some of the techniques that people use to make themselves lucid dream. Some drugs and herbs can induce lucid dreaming too.
Is Lucid Dreaming Rare?
Yes, unintentional lucid dreaming is rare and only half of the population experience a lucid dream at least once in their lifetime. However, intentional lucid dreaming is achievable with the right techniques and guidance, and a lot of persistent effort.
Is Lucid Dreaming Good?
Lucid dreaming has some compelling benefits and can even help reduce anxiety and depression. It also shows promise in the treatment of sleep disorders such as nightmares. But it is advisable to be cautious if you have underlying mental issues like psychosis.
Wrapping Up
Lucid dreaming is real. Over the years, scientific research has consistently shown that lucid dreaming is a verifiable state of awareness while dreaming. Researchers have not only proved that lucid dreaming is real, but also that the dreamers can be conscious enough to communicate with the waking world.
Although less reliable, personal accounts further validate this phenomenon with records indicating that people have been practicing lucid dreaming for centuries or millennia.
If you remain a skeptic, try out the techniques and see if you can have a lucid dream.
