LUCID
DREAMING
Ngan Diep
Kim Fleck
Stephen Johnson
David Yoshida
Outline
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Discussion Questions
Introduction
History
Characteristics of Lucid Dreaming
Physiological Aspects
Usefulness of Lucidity
Methods of Induction
Conclusion
Discussion
Questions
• Could there be consciousness
during sleep?
• Do we have deliberate control over
our actions in dreams?
• What is the nature of imaginary
worlds?
• Is lucid dreaming an altered state of
consciousness?
Introduction
• What is lucid dreaming?
• Dreams in which you know that you are
dreaming.
• Levels of lucid dreaming and
awareness
• High-level lucidity
• Low-level lucidity
• How common are lucid dreams?
• "About 58% of the population have experienced a
lucid dream at least once in their lifetime, while
about 21% report it with some frequency (one or
more a month). – Jayne Gackenbach
History
• 415 AD written in a letter by
St. Augustine.
• Practiced by Tibetan
Buddhists for a thousand
years through a form of dream
yoga
• 1913 Term coined by
Frederick Van Eeden
• Modern research- Stephen
LaBerge and Lynn Nagel of
Stanford University
CHARACTERISITICS
• The beginning of lucidity is marked by
distinct eye movements
• Occurs late during the REM sleep cycle
• Induced by some sort of “cue”
• Recognition of this “cue” is made
possible by higher cortical arousal
• Waking up from a lucid dream feels more
real than waking from a normal dream
• This is due to the higher cortical arousal
experienced during lucid dreaming
PHYSIOLOGICAL
ASPECTS
• Is there a correspondence between
actions of the dreamer and muscle
activity and electrical responses?
• Dream Actions
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(Schatzman, Worsley, and Fenwick 1988)
• Dream Sex
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(LaBerge, Greenleaf, and Kedzierski 1983)
Usefulness of
Lucidity
• Adventure and Excitement
• Practice/Rehearsal
• Creative Problem Solving
• Therapeutic
What is the nature of the dream world?
Methods of
Induction
• Mnemonic Induction of Lucid
Dreaming (MILD)
• Mindfulness
• External Signals
• Electric Shock to the wrist
• Dream Light (LaBerge 1985)
How long do dreams last?
Conclusion
• Is lucid dreaming an ASC? YES
• How long do dreams take? About 13 sec
• Is there a correspondence between
actions of the dreamer and muscle
activity and electrical responses? YES
• What is the nature of the dream world?
We don’t know.
References
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Blackmore, Susan. Lucid Dreaming: Awake in Your Sleep? Skeptical Inquirer, 1991. 362370.
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Conscious Mind, Sleeping Brain: Perspectives on Lucid Dreaming. Ed. Gackenbach,
Jayne and Stephen LaBerge. New York: Plenum Press, 1988.
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Holt, Doug. LUCID DREAMING. Philadelphia. 1998.
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper1/Holt.html
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LaBerge, S., Greenleaf, W., & Kedzierski, B. (1983). Physiological responses to dreamed
sexual activity during lucid REM sleep. Psychophysiology, 20, 454-455.
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LaBerge, Stephen and H. Rheingold. EXPLORING THE WORLD OF LUCID DREAMING.
New York: Ballantine. 1990.
http://www.lucidity.com/EWLD6.txt
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LaBerge, Stephen. Lucid Dreaming. New York: Ballantine. 1985.
http://www.lucidity.com/LD8DFM.html
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Schatzman, M., A. Worsley, and P. Fenwick. 1988. Correspondence during lucid dreams
between dreamed and actual events. In Conscious Mind, Sleeping Brain, 155-179, ed. J.
Gackenbach and S. LaBerge. New York: Plenum.
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Sparrow, G. S. LUCID DREAMING, DAWNING OF THE CLEAR LIGHT Virginia Beach:
A.R.E. Press, 1976.
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Wallace, Benjamin, and Leslie Fisher. Consciousness and Behavior. Waveland press.
2003.