Lucid dreams are when you know that you’re dreaming while you’re asleep. You’re aware that the events flashing through your brain aren’t really happening. But the dream feels vivid and real. You may even be able to control how the action unfolds, as if you’re directing a movie in your sleep
When Do Lucid Dreams Happen?
Lucid dreams are most common during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a period of very deep sleep marked by eye motion, faster breathing, and more brain activity.
- You usually enter REM sleep about 90 minutes after falling asleep. It lasts about 10 minutes.
Dangers of Lucid Dreams
Less sleep quality
How to Have Lucid Dreams
Reality testing
- Dream diary
- Wake up after 5 hours of sleep, stay awake briefly, and then go back to bed to try to enter an REM sleep period
- Mnemonic induction of lucid dreams
- Drugs
- Devices
- Some masks and headbands that have sounds or lights might bring on a lucid state
Lucid Dreams Research
Neuroscientists don’t know exactly how and why lucid dreams happen, but they have some ideas
- Physical differences in the brains of people who do and do not have lucid dreams
- The very front part of the brain, called the prefrontal cortex, is bigger in people with lucid dreams which suggests that folks who are most likely to have these tend to be self-reflective types
Benefits of Lucid Dreams
Less anxiety: The sense of control you feel during a lucid dream may stay with you and make you feel empowered.
- Better motor skills: Limited studies suggest that it may be possible to improve simple things like tapping your fingers more quickly by “practicing” during your lucid dream
- Improved problem-solving: Researchers found some evidence that lucid dreams can help people solve problems that deal with creativity more than logic (e.g., a conflict with another person)
