The phenomenology of lucid dreaming: an online survey
- PMID: 24934010
- DOI: 10.5406/amerjpsyc.127.2.0191
The phenomenology of lucid dreaming: an online survey
Abstract
In lucid dreams the dreamer is aware that he or she is dreaming. Although such dreams are not that uncommon, many aspects of lucid dream phenomenology are still unclear. An online survey was conducted to gather data about lucid dream origination, duration, active or passive participation in the dream, planned actions for lucid dreams, and other phenomenological aspects. Among the 684 respondents who filled out the questionnaire, there were 571 lucid dreamers (83.5%). According to their reports, lucid dreams most often originate spontaneously in adolescence. The average lucid dream duration is about 14 minutes. Lucid dreamers are likely to be active in their lucid dreams and plan to accomplish different actions (e.g., flying, talking with dream characters, or having sex), yet they are not always able to remember or successfully execute their intentions (most often because of awakening or hindrances in the dream environment). The frequency of lucid dream experience was the strongest predictor of lucid dream phenomenology, but some differences were also observed in relation to age, gender, or whether the person is a natural or self-trained lucid dreamer. The findings are discussed in light of lucid dream research, and suggestions for future studies are provided.
Similar articles
-
Frequency of lucid dreaming in a representative German sample.Percept Mot Skills. 2011 Feb;112(1):104-8. doi: 10.2466/09.PMS.112.1.104-108. Percept Mot Skills. 2011. PMID: 21466083
-
Pre-sleep treatment with galantamine stimulates lucid dreaming: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.PLoS One. 2018 Aug 8;13(8):e0201246. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201246. eCollection 2018. PLoS One. 2018. PMID: 30089135 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Partial memory reinstatement while (lucid) dreaming to change the dream environment.Conscious Cogn. 2020 Aug;83:102974. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2020.102974. Epub 2020 Jun 29. Conscious Cogn. 2020. PMID: 32615463
-
Lucid dreaming and the mind-body relationship: a model for the cognitive and physiological variations in rapid eye movement sleep.Percept Mot Skills. 1996 Aug;83(1):331-6. doi: 10.2466/pms.1996.83.1.331. Percept Mot Skills. 1996. PMID: 8873210 Review.
-
Induction of lucid dreams: a systematic review of evidence.Conscious Cogn. 2012 Sep;21(3):1456-75. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2012.07.003. Epub 2012 Jul 28. Conscious Cogn. 2012. PMID: 22841958 Review.
Cited by 9 articles
-
Minds and Brains, Sleep and Psychiatry.Psychiatr Res Clin Pract. 2021 Spring;3(1):12-28. doi: 10.1176/appi.prcp.20200023. Epub 2020 Nov 10. Psychiatr Res Clin Pract. 2021. PMID: 35174319 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Lucid Dreaming Brain Network Based on Tholey's 7 Klartraum Criteria.Front Psychol. 2020 Jul 29;11:1885. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01885. eCollection 2020. Front Psychol. 2020. PMID: 32849106 Free PMC article.
-
Wake Up, Work on Dreams, Back to Bed and Lucid Dream: A Sleep Laboratory Study.Front Psychol. 2020 Jun 26;11:1383. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01383. eCollection 2020. Front Psychol. 2020. PMID: 32670163 Free PMC article.
-
Lucid Dreaming, Nightmares, and Sleep Paralysis: Associations With Reality Testing Deficits and Paranormal Experience/Belief.Front Psychol. 2020 Mar 18;11:471. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00471. eCollection 2020. Front Psychol. 2020. PMID: 32256437 Free PMC article.
-
Is It a Good Idea to Cultivate Lucid Dreaming?Front Psychol. 2019 Nov 15;10:2585. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02585. eCollection 2019. Front Psychol. 2019. PMID: 31803118 Free PMC article. No abstract available.