Thread: The Science Behind Lucid Dreaming

Hi,

I am interested if anybody can explain lucid dreaming from a scientific viewpoint? I know that it's existence has been proven in experiments such as those by Stephen LaBerge and have experienced it for myself, but I don't think I've ever read a satisfactory explanation of how the paradoxical state of being conscious whilst asleep is possible.

Thanks,

Hi PoFox-
well I think you won't be able to get a concrete scientific answer until you can first scientifically explain the 'conscious' part of the equation. Scientifically, we experience things (senses) as electronic and chemical impulses which our sense organs are designed to take in, then sending them to the brain for interpretation. At least, that's my understanding.

As for being 'conscious', however, that might be more difficult to explain. But there are a plethora of theories out there and on this site, I'm sure.

Thanks for the reply...I suppose I had forgotten that we can't really explain why we even have consciousness in the first place! I would be grateful if anybody could point me in the direction of any worthwhile material on this

I have a perfect paper for you

REM Sleep and Dreaming: Towards a Theory of Protoconsciousness

This is a fantastic review of a large volume of dream and sleep science until now, and specifically how our consciousness changes between sleep and waking. J Allan Hobson proposes an AIM model of consciousness to show that lucid dreaming is actually a state of consciousness somewhere in between waking and REM.

It's also very interesting to find out how the balance of two neuromodulatory systems, the amingergic and cholinergic systems, determines our state of consciousness.

Hope you find it interesting!

Many thanks! Reading it now

That's interesting, that the write believes lucid dreaming to be "between" REM and waking consciousness. If that's the case lucid dreamers really do attain a new level of awareness.

Originally Posted by PolicemanFox

That's interesting, that the write believes lucid dreaming to be "between" REM and waking consciousness. If that's the case lucid dreamers really do attain a new level of awareness.

Yes, very interesting. Gives us a little bit of a scientific foundation on which to build further study of the specific physiological mechanisms of lucid dreaming.

Originally Posted by PolicemanFox

That's interesting, that the write believes lucid dreaming to be "between" REM and waking consciousness. If that's the case lucid dreamers really do attain a new level of awareness.

I've always heard it not as a between sort of thing, but as parts. What I mean is that when you go to sleep, certain parts of your brain shut down. Not all of it, though. And with LDing, somebody those parts "wake" back up. Usually people talk about the logic center of the brain being one of those parts.

If you're looking for more science-y lucid dreaming info, Stephen LaBerge has written many books on it.