Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Experiments
An unusual experiment that resulted from sleep studies created enormous speculation regarding the validity of the nature of sleep data gathered. In the 1970s, Alan Worsley volunteered for sleep experiments to determine whether evidence of lucid dreams as produced by parapsychologist Keith Hearne were an accurate representation of dream states. Prior to this, sleep studies focused on REM (Rapid Eye Movement) of subjects in the study while in the unconscious state of dreaming.
Lucid Dreams
Interest grew when a study by scientists proved accurate the description of lucid dreams as "conscious dreams". Lucid dreams occur when the dreamer is able to take part in and in some cases consciously manipulate the dream environment.
Types of Lucid Dreams
There are two types of lucid dreams. The first begins as a normal dream state. As the dream progresses, dreamers sense they are dreaming. This is called a dream-initiated lucid dream. The second type of lucid dream occurs when dreamers transport themselves from a normal waking state directly to the dream state with no loss of consciousness.
Scientists Stephen LaBerge and J. Allan Hobson on Lucid Dreams
In REM (Rapid Eye Movement), scientists proved eye movements during dreams affect the state of dreamers’ eyes. Later, the noted scientist Stephen LaBerge of Stanford University developed several techniques that confirmed the existence of lucid dreams. A neuroscientist, J. Allan Hobson, offered his hypothesis that further connects the area of the brain that is activated while dreaming occurs which produces a lucid dream state. In laymen’s terms, one area of the brain deactivates while another area activates working memory that allows the sleeper to be conscious of the dream state.
Dream Yoga
Lucid dreams became more widely known in the past few decades. However, the practice of Dream Yoga maintains full waking consciousness while in the dream state. The dream state since the late 1970s became a focus of attention for many people who had acute "dream recall"; an ability to recall dreams clearly enough to document them in journal format.
The Sleep State
To induce a lucid dream, it’s necessary to will an intent as one falls asleep, recognizing that the dream is occurring. Another method often suggested to induce lucid dreaming is to use a repetitive action while awake that will be repeated in lucid dreaming. There are many aspects of sleep that encourage lucid dreaming such as waking from a dream, falling back into the sleep state and recalling the interrupted dream.
Sleep Studies and Lucid Dreams
Sleep studies have shown various patterns of conscious behavior while awake that induce certain people to regular lucid dreaming such as flipping a light switch on and off, tapping fingers to a specific rhythm as well as repeating certain actions to assist the onset of lucid dreams prior to the sleep state. There are also certain dream signs that occur during dreams that, when recognized, help achieve lucid dreaming such as actions that would be impossible to achieve in a conscious or waking state, loss of physical strength or places or characters that in a dream seem strange.
It should be noted that lucid dreams are not associated with the common practice of "daydreaming", nor are they akin to auto-hypnosis whereby a person induces a trance-like state through repetitious suggestion. Rather, lucid dreams are the result of a dream state that allows the dreamer to possess a raised awareness of their dream state. Lucid dream states have been used as a therapy for people who suffer from regular nightmares.
