Lucid Dream- Dream in Dreaming

Foreword

I have come to know lately about Lucid dream and which has enchanted me, hence made an attempt to share a few words about this unique and uncommon subject. Also, I covered the differences between lucid dream and dream and as well as touched the subject of sleep walking and nightmare.

What is Lucid Dream

It is a type of dream where the dreamer becomes aware that he is dreaming. During a lucid dream, dreamer may gain some amount of control over the dream characters, narrative and environment.

Background

Lucid dreaming has been studied and reported for many years. Distinguished people from ancient to modern times have been fascinated by lucid dreams and have sought ways to understand better the causes and purpose. Many theories have emerged as a result of scientific research on the subject.

Scientific Studies

In 1968 Lucia Green analyzed the main characteristics of lucid dreams and concluded lucid dreams were a category of experience quite distinct from an ordinary dream and they were associated with Rapid Eye Movements (REM) sleep.

In 1975 Dr Keith Hearne had conducted practical study on REM sleep by using experienced lucid dreamer and succeeded in recording using a Electrculogram (EOG) a pre-defined eye movement signaled by the dreamer.

In Stephen Laberge also performed a pilot study establishing that the time perception while counting during lucid dream would almost the same during waking life.

La Berge’s result was reconfirmed by D Erlacher and M Schredl in 2004.In a further study Laberge also observed that while singing and counting during dream, the right and left hemisphere were active respectively.

Dr J Hobson, a Neuroscientist hypothesized regarding the activities in brain while lucid. The first step of lucid is recognizing one is dreaming. This recognition might happen in the dorsolateral pre formal cortex, which is one of the areas gets deactivated during REM sleep and where working memories occur. Once this area is activated, the recognition of dreaming occurs, the dreamer must be cautious to let the dream continue but also be cautious enough to remember that it is a dream.

Paul Thorley through his significant researches out lined an epistemological frame using critical realities.

To summaries lucid dream is totally related to Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.

Heart of Lucid Dream – REM Sleep

During sleep brain undergoes through five different stages. One of these stages is Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. During this phase, the eyes move rapidly in different directions.

The other four phases of sleep are called Non- RES or NREM Sleep.

People get in to the REM sleep within first 90 minutes of falling asleep and as sleep cycle repeats throughout the night, REM sleep occurs several times during the night. It accounts for approximately 20-25% of an adult’s cycle and over 50% in case of an infant.

Most dream occurs during REM sleep and it is thought to play a role in learning memory and mood.

The first phase of REM sleep usually lasts for 10 minutes and it gets progressively longer. The final phase of REM sleep may last up to one hour.

During REM sleep, the body and brain go through several changes, including Rapid Eye Movement.

Fast and irregular breathing

Increased Heart rate, change in blood pressure and body temperature too,

Brain activity similar to that seen while awake.

Increased oxygen demand by brain, sexual arousal both in men and women

Twitching of the face and limb

In most people, a state of temporary paralysis is faced as the brain signals the spinal cord to cease of arms and legs. The lack of muscle movement is known as atonia and it may be a protective mechanism to prevent injury that might be caused by acting out our dreams.

REM sleep is often associated with very vivid dreams due to the increased brain activity. During this stage of sleep muscles are immobilized, but the brain is very active, hence it is also sometime called Paradoxical Sleep.

Non-REM Sleep

Sleep starts with Non-REM Sleep and travels through each stage of NREM before it enters to REM sleep, each stage of NREM lasts for 5 to 15 minutes.

Stage 1 of NREM Sleep- In this stage of sleep a person is between being awake and sleep or in a state of very light sleep.

Stage 2 Non-REM Sleep – This stage is characterized by a slightly deeper sleep. Body temperature and heat rate slows down.

Stage 3 & 4 of Non-REM Sleep- These stages are of deep and restorable sleep; are known as Slow Wave Sleep or Delta Sleep. The muscles relax along with the increase of blood supply to the muscles, also body gets repaired and grow tissues. Hormones are released and energy stores are replenished. As people age, they tend to get less NREM sleep. People aged under 30 years experiences two hours of restorable sleep at every night, whereas older adults may get just thirty minutes of Restorable sleep.

 Five Techniques of Studying and Practicing Lucid Dreams

Spontaneous lucid dreams are rare and difficult to foresee. Some of the most common techniques of studying lucid dreams include the following:

• Reality testing (RT): This technique requires participants to perform tests throughout the day that differentiate sleep and waking. For example, a participant may ask themselves whether or not they are dreaming during the day; since self-awareness is not possible during non-lucid dreams, being able to answer this question proves they are in fact awake. Reality testing is based on the notion that repeated tests will eventually seep into the participant’s dreams, allowing them to achieve lucidity and distinguish between the dream state and waking.
• Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD): This technique involves training oneself to recognize the difference between dreams and reality during sleep. Subjects wake up after a period of sleeping and repeat a variation of the following phrase: “Next time I’m asleep, I’ll remember I’m dreaming.” Researchers will induce lucid dreams using the MILD method by waking up subjects after five hours of sleep.
• Wake Back to Bed (WBTB): Some people can induce lucid dreams using this technique, which involves waking up in the middle of the night and then returning to sleep after a certain amount of time has passed. WBTB is often used in conjunction with the MILD technique. When these two methods are used together, the most effective length of time between waking up and returning to sleep appears to be 30 to 120 minutes.
• External Stimulation (ET): This technique involves flashing lights and other stimuli that are activated while the subject is in REM sleep. The rationale behind this method is that the sleeper will incorporate this stimulus into their dreams, triggering lucidity in the process.
• Maintenance of A Dream Journal: To maintain a Dream journal /Diary, where someone writes down one’s dream. This would help to remember what

happened during each dream. It is said to help one to recognize dreaming and enhancing awareness about one’s dream.

Additionally, some studies have involved inducing lucid dreams using certain types of drugs and supplements.

Once a subject has fallen asleep, researchers can level of activity in the prefrontal cortex and other areas of the brain using a device known as a electroencephalogram (EEG), during which metal discs are attached to the subject’s scalp. An electrooculogram (EOG) may also be used to track eye movements to determine when the subject enters REM sleep. For some studies, subjects are asked to make specific eye movements while sleeping to signal they are having a lucid dream. EOGs are particularly helpful for detecting these movements.

Effect of Lucid Dream

The popularity of self-induced lucid dreams has grown in recent years. The most common reasons for inducing lucid dreams include wish fulfilment, overcoming fears, and healing. Some studies have also shown a link between inducing lucid dreams and overcoming the fear and distress associated with nightmares.

However, there is a lot of debate over whether inducing lucid dreams is beneficial or harmful to mental health. Some researchers argue that creating lucid dreams intentionally blurs the lines between dreaming and reality, and this can have negative implications for one’s long-term mental health. Lucid dream therapy has shown to be largely ineffective for some groups, such as people with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some other researchers also expressed in the similar line stating about the effect of lucid dream as deterioration of hygiene and quality of sleep inducing more day time sleepiness, disturbances of sleep awake cycle, which in turn may affect emotional regulation and memory consolidation. The day time sleepiness may invite frequent lucid dreaming.

 How Dream is Different from Lucid Dream

Dream

A dream is a succession of images, incidents, emotions and sensation, that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The content and function of dream is not fully understood, although they have been a topic of scientific, philosophical and religious interest.

Dream interpretation is the attempt at drawing meaning from dreams and searching for an underlying message. The scientific study of dream is called oneirology.

Views of Different Religion About Dream

All the religion like ancient Hebrews, Christian and Islam by and large believe that dream is a process to get God’s advice/talk and revelation. In Hind mythology it is stated that dream is one of the states of life and other two are sleep and awake. Judaism believes that dream can be interpreted and lessons can be learnt from the same.

Dream Interpretation

 One study] found that most people believe that "their dreams reveal meaningful hidden truths". In another study conducted in the United States, South Korea and India, they found that 74% of Indians, 65% of South Koreans and 56% of Americans believed their dream content provided them with meaningful insight into their unconscious beliefs and desires. This Freudian view of dreaming was believed by the largely non-scientific public significantly more than theories of dreaming that attribute dream content to memory consolidation, problem-solving, or random brain activity.

It has also been proposed that dreams serve no particular purpose, and that they are simply a by-product of biochemical processes that only occur in the brain during sleep.

Interesting Facts About Dream

Everybody dreams – Baby to Adult and people of all sex dream.

Most dreams are forgotten- 95% of the dreams are forgotten quickly.

All dreams are not in colour- People aged below 25 years only reports about colour dream and group aged above 55 years report only black and white dream. On an average 12 % of dreams are in black and white.

Men and women dream differently- Men mostly dream about weapons and women dream about clothes.

Blind person dreams visually

Animal can probably dream.

Sleep Walking

Sleep walking is another term relevant to sleep activity.

Sleepwalking, formally known as somnambulism, is a behaviour disorder that originates during deep sleep and results in walking or performing other complex behaviours while still mostly asleep. It is more common in children than adults and is more likely to occur if a person has a family history of the condition, is sleep deprived, or is prone to repeated night-time awakenings.

Accidents during these episodes can cause injuries, and sleepwalking is associated with worse sleep and daytime drowsiness. Active treatment may not be necessary for many people, but when episodes are more frequent or intense, several treatment options may be beneficial.

The symptoms of sleepwalking can involve various types of simple or complex actions that a person does while still mostly asleep. During an episode, a person may have open eyes with a blank look on their face. They are usually minimally responsive or incoherent in their speech.

It is important to recognize that, despite the name, sleepwalking is not limited to walking. Other actions under the umbrella of sleepwalking can be running, routine actions like getting dressed, moving furniture, engaging in sexual behaviour or urinating in inappropriate places. Less often, behaviours can be violent or may be more complex, including trying to drive a car.

Sleepwalking episodes can last for a few seconds to a half an hour with most finishing in less than 10 minutes. The person may return to bed and go back to sleep on their own, or they may wake up confused while they are still out of bed.

Incidentally, they are totally ignorant about their activities occurred during sleepwalking

Sleepwalking occurs more often among children than adults. One long-term study found that 29% of children from around 2 to 13 years old experienced sleepwalking with a peak in incidence between ages 10 and 13. In adults, the prevalence is estimated to be limited to 4%.

 Nightmare

A nightmare is a disturbing dream associated with negative feelings, such as anxiety or fear that awakens you. Nightmares are common in children but can happen at any age. Occasional nightmares usually are nothing to worry about.

Nightmares may begin in children between 3 and 6 years old and tend to decrease after the age of 10. During the teen and young adult years, girls appear to have nightmares more often than boys do. Some people have them as adults or throughout their lives.

Although nightmares are common, nightmare disorder is relatively rare. Nightmare disorder is when nightmares happen often, cause distress, disrupt sleep, It also create problems with daytime functioning or result fear of going to sleep.

Conclusion

Lucid dream, dream, sleepwalking and nightmare all occur during sleep only. There are thick and thin line of differences among them. Lately, people have become interested to practice lucid dream to acquire more knowledge and utilise the outcome in a positive way.