Can sleep deprivation increase dream length, and thus increase the chances of becoming lucid?

**EzioAuditore** · 07-11-2014 05:35 PM

I'm okay with staying up late at night to accomplish tasks that need to be done for reasons, and just in general, I enjoy staying up late. The overall darkness of the atmosphere gives a kind of calmness and pleasure, but that's just because I'm on a weird sleeping schedule. But, since that goes into morning, and into the afternoon, I end up accidentaly pulling an all nighter. Is REM quality and length affected by sleep deprivation? Also, does caffeine interfere with REM?

**OneUp** · 07-11-2014 05:45 PM

Yes, REM quality is affected by sleep deprivation, it will cause REM rebound where youll get longer and more vivid periods of REM sleep. And yes caffeine interferes with sleep entirely in general, it prevents you from falling asleep(this also depends on the amount taken and how often it is taken during the day). From what i've read REM sleep is less affected but you will have more frequent awakenings during the night. and caffeine also shortens deep sleep time and lengthens the duration of your light sleep.

**SinisterDezz** · 07-14-2014 04:25 AM

This is just me, personally, but I always have better dreams when I sleep on a regular schedule (10:00 PM - 7/8:00 AM)

When I go to sleep at like 2 or 3 in the morning I hardly remember any of my dreams.

I guess it's just me,

Carry on.

**Sensei** · 07-14-2014 04:57 AM

I am pretty sure that if you miss like 2 hours of sleep one night, then you will have a tiny bit of REM rebound. If you take a lot of time or make yourself live on very little sleep, then you have less and less REM and more NREM.

One of the biggest problems with sleep deprivation is that it hinders your ability to concentrate on things and thus effects your awareness. This will make you forget your dreams and make you extremely less likely to LD.

In order to have consistent LDs, you gotta work consistently (on lucidity and recall), and sleep consistently. I wouldn't recommend doing things that you cannot adapt to your lifestyle every single day.

**milans** · 07-14-2014 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by SinisterDezz

This is just me, personally, but I always have better dreams when I sleep on a regular schedule (10:00 PM - 7/8:00 AM)

When I go to sleep at like 2 or 3 in the morning I hardly remember any of my dreams.

I guess it's just me,

Carry on.

Not just you, it's the same for me. Most of the time I sleep around 4-6 AM and I hardly remember my dreams when I wake up. I have better luck sleeping at around my usual 12-2 AM.