Where Will Your Next Dream Lead You?

Have you ever felt that you can control your dreams?  I recall instances in which I have felt that I could do just that: direct the trajectory of my dreams.  Weird.  Ursula Voss’s article on lucid dreaming begins by explaining the phenomenon of REM (rapid eye movement sleep) as it relates to the immediate present, therefore earning its classification as a primary state of consciousness.  After arousal, humans, and perhaps only us, enter a secondary state of consciousness characterized by higher-order cognitive functions like self-reflective awareness, abstract thinking, volition, and metacognition (Voss).  I will define lucid dreaming then as a mental state in which a transition from primary to secondary consciousness takes place, allowing the sleeper to realize that he/ she is in fact dreaming and perhaps to even control the direction of the given dream upon this realization.

Changes in EEG, EOG, and EMG activity noted in Voss’s study show REM sleep modification such that subjects appeared to enter a different state of consciousness that was not wakefulness but more “controlled” than REM sleep state.  Namely, changes in gamma band amplitude and frequency are both noted in EEG activity categorized as indicative of lucid dreaming.  Gamma bands are associated with high cognitive functioning (they range from 40 to 100 Hz).  A logical connection then is drawn between lucid dreaming and gamma bands.  Subjective lucid dreaming report measures in the study correlated well with noted changes in gamma (40-Hz band) activity as well – lowered gamma band activity to be precise.

Voss suggests that the study provides the first causal evidence of demonstrated altered consciousness awareness resulting from induced gamma band activity.  Lowered gamma-band activity appeared to be the necessary present condition to allow for a transition into secondary consciousness in dreaming, i.e. lucid dreaming.  What does this information mean for you, me, or our peers?

I say it means that lucid dreaming is real!  Again, I can attest to this statement as truth because I have experienced instances where I have woken up briefly because something interrupted my sleep, turned over, and gone back to sleep in the same dream.  I cannot explain the phenomenon as I do not have these dreams often…nor can I provide an adequate recent example.  However, on the rare occasion that I experience lucid dreaming, I am amazed each time at the beauty and complexity of my mind to navigate altered consciousness.  I am spurred into intellectual curiosity – and usually end up wanting to watch the movie Inception to explore my thoughts on dreaming and consciousness more…