What is a Lucid Dream?
A lucid dream refers to a dream in which the dreamer is aware of what they are dreaming and can remember the happenings in their vision. It is also observed that during a lucid dream, the dreamer might be able to gain some control over the events in their dreams, such as characters, narrative, or surroundings.
However, this is not the only prescribed parameter to define a lucid dream. The idea of lucid dreams has enamored prominent figures from ancient to modern times, and to understand the concept better, they have sought ways. As a result, individuals will find multiple definitions of lucid dream on the internet.
The study of lucid dreams has resulted in the emergence of different theories and scientific philosophies. Later developments in psychological research have pointed out ways that decipher this dreaming as a form of sleep therapy.
Different Definitions Of A Lucid Dream
Paul Tholey’s Definition
Seven criteria of clarity are required for a ‘dream’ to be defined as lucid. Paul Tholey developed these. They are as follows:
- Awareness of the dream state.
- Awareness of the capacity to make decisions.
- Awareness of self.
- Understanding of memory functions.
- Knowledge of the meaning of the dream.
- Knowledge of the dream environment.
- Knowledge of concentration and focus.
Deirdre Barrett’s Definition
In 1992, research by Deirdre Barrett revealed that there are four corollaries of a lucid dream. The corollaries are as follows:
- The dreamer is mindful of what they are dreaming.
- Objects disappear after waking up.
- Physical laws do not necessarily adhere to the dream.
- The dreamer has a clear and clean memory of the dreaming world.
Barrett also concludes that when a person is lucid dreaming, they are in a fake reality. She says less than a quarter of lucid dreams exhibit all four statements at the same time.
Stephen LaBerge’s Definition
Studies by Stephen LaBerge highlight that a person can control the dream scenario among lucid dreams. He also found that while the control of a vision and awareness are interrelated, neither depends on the other.
LaBerge revealed dreams that showcase clarity without the capacity for awareness; also, in some of the dreams where the dreamer is lucid and conscious that they could exercise control, they choose simply to observe the happenings.
Origin Of The Term ‘Lucid Dream’
The term ‘lucid dream’ was primarily coined by the Dutch author and psychiatrist Frederik van Eeden in his article A Study of Dreams which was published in 1913, where he describes that during lucid dreaming, the dreamer is aware of what they are dreaming.
Van Eeden wrote the article after a careful study of his own dreams, which he considered most important. His dreams were recorded between the 20th of January 1898 to the 26th of December 1912 in his “dream diary.” A total of 352 of these recorded dreams were recognized as lucid.
Based on the data he penned, Van Eeden classified seven different types of dreams that he experienced. They are as follows:
- Initial dreams
- Ordinary dreams
- Pathological dreams
- Demoniacal dreams
- Vivid dreams
- General dream- sensation
- Lucid dreams
He also concluded that the seventh type, the lucid dream, is “the most interesting and worthy of the most careful observation and study.”
The Neural Mechanism Behind A Lucid Dream
Celia Green, in 1968, analyzed the main characteristics of lucid dreaming, stating that this type of dream is a category of experiences unlike ordinary dreams and said that they are associated with rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep).
In 1975, Dr. Keith Hearne argued that the idea of rapid eye movement was not appropriate to allow a dreamer to send a candid message directly from dreams to the waking world. Hearne experimented with a lucid dreamer and subsequently researched by asking the dreamer to perform a pre-determined physical response while experiencing a dream that includes eye movement signals.
Further, in 1980, Stephen LaBerge performed a pilot study that reflected that the perception of time required while counting during a lucid dream is about the same as during the waking world. The results of LaBerge’s studies were confirmed by German researchers D. Erlacher and M. Schredl in the year 2004.
Two-way Communication During A Lucid Dream
Scientists have established real-time two-way communication with people experiencing lucid dreams. It implies that during dreaming, they were able to consciously communicate with experimenters via eye movements or facial muscle signals and were able to comprehend complex questions and use working memory. It proved to be a new approach to the scientific exploration of the dream state.
Alternative Theories Outlining A Lucid Dream
Some notable researchers argue that lucid dreaming is not a state of sleep but of brief wakefulness, termed “micro-wakening.” Philosopher Norman Malcolm has suggested against the possibility of checking the accuracy of dream reports, arguing that “the only touchstone of the truth of a statement that someone has had a certain dream is, vitally, his saying no.”
Factors Triggering A Lucid Dream
The most common reasons that cause the occurrence of a lucid dream include wish fulfillment, overcoming fears, and healing. Studies have also showcased a link between inducing lucid dreams and overcoming the fears and distress associated with nightmares.
However, there is some sort of an argument over whether lucid dreams benefit or harm a person’s mental health. Some researchers debate that intentionally inducing lucid dreams blurs the lines between dreaming and reality, which can harm someone’s mental health in the long term.
Some researchers also deliberate that a few problems with having recurring lucid dreams include sleep disruption. Since a lucid dream is highly associated with advanced levels of brain activity, it has been proposed that these dreams can disrupt sleep quality and negatively affect sleep hygiene.
The Study of A Lucid Dream
The most accepted techniques of studying lucid dreams, as comprehended by philosophers and researchers, include the following:
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Reality Testing, where the participants sleep throughout the day to differentiate between sleep and waking.
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Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams involves training oneself to categorize the differences between dreams and reality during sleep.
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Wake Back to Bed involves waking up in the middle of the night and then returning to sleep after a short period. External Stimulation methods include flashing lights and other stimuli that are activated while the participant is in REM sleep.
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Lastly, it is also observed that sometimes to study and research, lucid dreams are induced using specific drugs or supplements.