Playing Video Games increases chances to Lucid Dream, study shows

[Fuzzman]

So I searched to see if an post was already started about this but I didn't find anything so I thought I'd start one. I just found this article a little while ago while looking up information about lucid dreaming. It talks about a study that was done that showed how people who play video games get a higher frequency of lucid dreams and have more control over their dreams! The researcher says it has to do with the amount of focus and concentration much like with meditation. It also points out how video games and dreaming both represent alternate realities where we control a character and make decisions. Though there is a difference because dreams are created internally while video games are external. There was also a benefit of video games helping with nightmares (maybe not the really gory type games, but violent ones) because gamers tend to not get as afraid of aggressive stimuli: "To test that theory, Gackenbach conducted a 2008 study with 35 males and 63 females, and used independent assessments that coded threat levels in after-dream reports. She found that gamers experienced less or even reversed threat simulation (in which the dreamer became the threatening presence), with fewer aggression dreams overall." I can't post links yet because I'm still new but I just did a Google search for "video games and dreams" and the first two links talked about the study that was done. I love playing video games but since I started practicing lucid dreaming a few weeks ago I hadn't really thought about playing them. I did notice before when I played a game near bedtime I would have very wild dreams about the game. Now that I'm practicing becoming lucid, maybe games are a good dream sign for me to use and recognize that I'm dreaming, and may also give me more confidence and control. After reading this article I totally played me some Arkham City, hopefully I'll have a cool lucid dream about being Batman! I'm not sure if many of you are gamers but I was interested to hear other people's opinions on this subject and learn if anyone has some personal experience with using video games to help lucidity.

[Voidwalker]

Makes sense..I've noticed while reading through the dream journals that a good number of people on here are also gamers too. Interesting that you did some research and found out there is a correlation.

[Circa]

I often dream about video games or things related to them, i never really thought about using them as a dream sign, but i'll start trying that. Thanks for sharing Fuzzman!

[lazerblade]

Last night I had a dream in a video-game, which has definitely happened more than once. I must admit that I haven't become lucid from it though.

[Nhuc]

I suppose it would have to have something to do with your more likely to enter a game world in your dreams, therefore signaling to yourself that it can't be real. Although, if it's any zombie dream I will just enjoy it rather then become lucid.

[Aldar13]

I had a CSS : zombie mode dream last night combined with some quake. Lot's of fire and blood hah

[Desert Claw]

Im not entirely convinced, i guess video games have helped me face situations that could have turned into nightmares.. But on the other hand i tend to dream like im playing the game, and this focus on playing the game with pretend rules like, 'you cant go this way' or 'you dont have enough power to do a fireball' it actually makes it harder for me to become lucid in that sense.

[Kaenthem]

i play minecrafet,and it was a reason to trigger lucidity,want the hole story,check my workbook

[Barry]

I had a CSS : zombie mode dream last night combined with some quake. Lot's of fire and blood hah haha same, wasn't zombie mode though. This could be a really good DC for me.

[Zyangur]

Interesting. I think I will play Limbo before bed! XD

[Fuzzman]

Interesting. I think I will play Limbo before bed! XD Hah that game is fun, but it seems like it would give you nightmares

[Zyangur]

Hah that game is fun, but it seems like it would give you nightmares XD. I think Minecraft would also give me nightmares. My dreams would be haunted of green things trying to blow my head off D:.

[PhiL]

Love having video game dreams, I usually dream of games I'm playing currently like Starcraft 2 and fps games .

[ryman]

Interesting, I have found myself on a call of duty map in a dream haha but did not become lucid, also I have had a few dreams that seemed inspired by skyrim, I was able to pull up a map and make potions, haha. But the potions were actually my idea during a lucid to help stay lucid but it definitely reminded me of skyrim. But again interesting thread.

[XeL]

This is old news. Use the search function if you want more info.

[ryman]

This is old news. Use the search function if you want more info. It is old news, but it is still an interesting topic to start new threads about, especially for newer members of DV. Rather than digging up a thread from 2005 or so, we can start new ones to discuss more about it, or re-discuss things in older threads that have hundreds of pages that you don't want to read through.

[XeL]

I'm fine with that. I was simply handing out some advice for people who wanted more information.

[ryman]

Ok, understandable, sorry if I came across like a bit of an ass. Was not intending to, it's just sometimes certain members on the site will chew you out for re posting something that was posted a while back, ya know.

[Zyangur]

I want to be in a rated E driving video game, and then pull out a shotgun and blow the others drivers head off. XD

[Fuzzman]

I want to be in a rated E driving video game, and then pull out a shotgun and blow the others drivers head off. XD Hah! Sicko but seriously I've wanted to lucid about some cool driving games too. My friend just got the new SSX snowboarding game and I've been really excited to start playing it and maybe have some sweet snowboarding dreams. This is old news. Use the search function if you want more info. I didn't realize there was another thread, I figured someone might have mentioned it already but I searched and didn't see anything. But I decided even if there was a thread already, it would be nice to revive it as a new thread anyway for people who are active now that hadn't thought about it and wouldn't just think "Oh maybe video games have something to do with dreams" and randomly search for it.

[Tkindle007]

Hmm I game a decent amount but I have hardly ever had dreams about games. They've all been just weird crazy dreams or weirdly bland and boring. Except one time when I was lucid I created a giant minecraft world to explore but that was intentional.

[ryman]

playing video games a lot will definitely influence your dreams, whether it is a lot or just a little, but the increasing lucid dream chances? not to sure, although being in a video game during a dream could definitely hint "hey you're dreaming dude" and at that point can help you to becoming lucid but it is all a matter of awareness in the dream and whether or not you recognize that your in a game. I have noticed though that watching t.v./movies/playing games and such, definitely influences my dreams. After watching some N.C.I.S. and Law and Order last night, I had a dream where I was part of the N.C.I.S. team and I was undercover in a underground gambling ring, I then had to chase some guy down and arrest him, so I'm pretty sure that watching those shows before bed had influenced my dreams quite a bit.

[Fuzzman]

I don't think of it necessarily as it increasing your chances of becoming lucid (I know the title says that but I've thought about it and realize that might not be exactly right), but possibly having more control when you are lucid. Like for example I've been playing Batman Arkham City and a zombie game called Dead Island. Last night I had a non-lucid dream that incorporated both of those games together where I was Batman with guns fighting zombies, which was awesome btw, wish I had become lucid . Even though it was a non-lucid I had a lot of control over my dream, I could use Batman's grapnel to get away for a sec, I could summon weapons, etc. So I could imagine being a gamer and a lucid dreamer gives you a better sense of ways to control your dreams (using game mechanics for example). Also it seems to boost confidence in dreams because your brain sees it as an alternate reality even if you don't realize you're in a dream. Even though I got attacked by zombies I wasn't scared for my life about being bit or killed because subconsciously I knew it wasn't real and I couldn't get hurt. As the article says, the dreamer tends to become the aggressor when that person is a gamer. I've noticed that more in more in my dreams lately that if I'm in a threatening situation, I tend to blow it off or retaliate unlike how I would react if I was seriously threatened in waking life. I should have titled the thread "Video Games increase control of dreams" or something like that, so sorry about being misleading in that sense. One way I could see it actually increasing your chance of becoming lucid is using games as a dream sign, but then it's just like any other dream sign, it's only useful if it shows up in your dreams frequently.

[ryman]

The title is fine because it relates to them being a dream sign and if you notice you are in a video game than you could become lucid. But, yea I like how you put it with the control thing. I have noticed that the more video games I play the more control I have in a dream. Like, the other night I had a dream where I was running from some sort of middle easterns in a temple thing and I ran outside and jumped over a ledge making them think I jumped to my death but really I swung around and held onto the ledge, then jumped back up and beat them down and continued sneaking around to find an exit. When approaching an enemy from behind or a dark corner I would use a "quick-save" feature from oblivion or skyrim on the PC if you are familiar with those games you might know what I am talking about. But I would do that before approaching an enemy in case anything would go wrong I could just load up my save haha. Also, later in the dream I pulled up a map and put a marker on it for where I wanted to go(also a reference to oblivion and skyrim.) So, i do believe that gamers tend to have more control over their dreams, lucid or not, which also could help in becoming lucid.

[Zyangur]

Skyrim is epic! I wish I had a dream where I was in Skyrim.