A Review of Lucid Dreaming

Lucid Dreams, Between Waking and Dreaming?
A Review of Literature on Lucid Dreaming and Consciousness

Jules J. Buijs
Student number: 1488945

Review Paper Master Cognitive Neuropsychology
Supervisor: J. B. Deijen, PhD.
August 3, 2012

LUCID DREAMS, BETWEEN WAKING AND DREAMING?

2

Abstract

Since the 1960’s, several studies have been carried out that proved the existence of lucid dreams
(i.e. dreams in which the dreamer is aware that he/she is dreaming). Since then, an increasing amount of studies aimed at providing insight in the co gnitive aspects of lucid dreams and lucid dream consciousness. This review aimed at collecting these studies in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the results obtained in the last decades. Furthermore, studies that researched the cognitive and neuronal differences between lucid dreams and non-lucid dreams are discussed. Finally, an attempt was made to interpret several recent studies, which discuss the theoretical framework in which the lucid dream belongs. As the debate is ongoing, an unequivocal theory has not been brought forth so far. This review paper concludes with the notion that future research should focus on changes in network activation in order to demarcate the conscious and cognitive abilities of the lucid dream.
Keywords: Lucid Dreaming, Dreaming, Consciousness, Cognition

LUCID DREAMS, BETWEEN WAKING AND DREAMING?

3

“The trick is to combine your waking rational abilities, with the infinite possibilities of your dreams”
– Guy Forsyth

Introduction
That we can be aware of our dreams while we are dreaming was already noted by Aristotle. The first notion of the term Lucid Dreaming (LD) was published by Frederik van Eeden (1913), a famous Dutch writer, who reported these spontaneously occurring insightful dreams in his books. LDs have had enormous value to different native religions, shamans and wizards. They were said to be the message of the gods, a heightened form of

References: Blagrove, M., & Hartnell, S. J. (2000). Lucid dreaming: Associations with internal locus of control, need for cognition and creativity Bosinelli, M., Cicogna, P. & Molinari, S. (1974). The tonic-phasic model and the feeling of selfparticipation in different stages of sleep. Giornale Italiano di Psicologia 1, 35–65. Brylowski, A. (1990). Nightmares in crisis: Clinical applications of lucid dreaming techniques. Cavanna, A. E., Trimble, M. R. (2006). The precuneus: a review of its functional anatomy and behavioural correlates Christoff, K., Ream, J. M., Geddes, L. P. T., & Gabrieli, J. D. E. (2003). Evaluating self-generated information: Anterior prefrontal contributions to human cognition 117, 1161-8. Doll, E., Gitter, G., & Holzinger, B. (2009). Dreaming, Lucid Dreaming and Personality. International Journal of Dream Research, 2(2), 52-57. Dresler M., Spoormaker V. I., Wehrle R., Czisch M. (2012). Dream imaging. In O. Flanagan, N. Edelman, G. M. (1992). Bright Air, Brilliant Fire: On the Matter of the Mind . New York: Basic Books. Erlacher, D. (2005). Motorisches Lernen im luziden Traum: phänomenologische und experimentelle Betrachtungen Erlacher, D., & Schredl, M. (2010). Practicing a motor task in a lucid dream enhances subsequent performance: A pilot study Fox, M. D., & Raichle, M. E. (2007). Spontaneous fluctuations in brain activity obs erved with functional magnetic resonance imaging Green, C. E. (1968). Lucid Dreams. Proceedings of the Institute of Psychophysical Research, Oxford University, Vol Hearne, K., (1982). Effects of performing certain set tasks in the lucid-dream state. Perceptual and motor skills, 54, 259-262. Hobson, J. A. (1989). Sleep. (Scientific American Library), W. H. Freeman Co., New York. Hobson, J. A. (2009). REM sleep and dreaming: towards a theory of protoconsciousness. Nature Reviews of Neuroscience, 10, 803–813. Hobson, J. A., Pace-Schott, E. F., & Stickgold, R. (2000). Dreaming and the brain: toward a cognitive neuroscience of conscious states Jacobson, A., Kales, A., Lehmann, D., Hoedemaker, S., (1964). Muscle tonus in human subjects during sleep and dreaming Johnson, M. (2007). Luzides Träumen: Ergebnisse einer Online-Befragung. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Mannheim. Kahan, T. L. & LaBerge, S., (1996). Cognition and metacognition in dreaming and waking: Comparisons of first and third-person ratings Kozmová, M. (2012). Phenomenon of Nocturnal Problem -Solving Strategies. Manuscript in preparation. LaBerge S., Dement, W. C., (1982). Lateralization of alpha activity for dreamed singing and counting during REM sleep LaBerge, S. P., Nagel, L. E., Dement, W. C. & Zarcone, V. P. (1981). Lucid Dreaming verified by volitional communication during REM sleep LaBerge, S., (2010). Signal-verfied Lucid Dreaming proves that REM sleep can support reflective consciousness LaBerge, S., Levitan, L., & Dement, W. C. (1986). Lucid Dreaming: Physiological correlates of consciousness during REM sleep Lapina, N., Lysenko, V., & Burikov, A. (1998). Age-dependent dreaming: characteristics of secondary school pupils Llinas, R. & Pare, D. (1991). Of dreaming and wakefulness. Neuroscience, 44, 521-535. Lo, R., (2002). A longitudinal study of perceived level of stress, coping and self-esteem on undergraduate nursing students: an Australian case study Muzur, A., Pace-Schott, E. F. & Hobson, J. A. (2002). The prefrontal cortex in sleep. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 6(11), 475–81. Partick, A., & Durndell, A. (2004). Lucid dreaming and personality: a replication. Dreaming, 14(4), 234-239. Petrie, K., Rotheram, M. J. (1982). Insulators against stress: self-esteem and assertiveness. Sämann, P. G., Wehrle, R., Spoormaker, V., Hoehn, D., Peters, H., Holsboer, F., Czisch, M. (2009). Schredl, M., & Erlacher, D. (2008). Relationship between waking sport activities, reading and dream content in sport and psychology students Schredl, M., & Erlacher, D. (2011). Frequency of lucid dreaming in a representative German sample. Schredl, M., Henley-Einion, J., Blagrove, M., (2012). Lucid dreaming in children: The UK library study. Shapiro, D. H., Wu, J., Buchsbaum, M., Hong, C., Elderkin-Thompson, V., & Hillard, D. (1995). Singer, W. (1999). Striving for coherence. Nature, 397, 391-392. Smith, E. E., & Jonides, J. (1998). Neuroimaging analyses of human working memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 95, 12061-8. Soffer-Dudek, N., Wertheim, R., & Shahar, G. (2011). Lucid dreaming and resilience in the face of exposure to terrorism Spoormaker V. Alles over dromen. Utrecht: Kosmos, 2006.