German scientists, under the direction of Beate Klofat, conducted an experiment using the classic wake-up-back-to-bed (WBTB) technique, but they did not inform the participants of the true goals of the research. The authors recruited 153 people for the study. The participants were instructed to wake up to an alarm clock five hours after going to bed and stay awake for 30 minutes (fill out an online questionnaire and read a text).
The scientists aimed to evaluate the effect of the WBTB technique in its pure form in order to eliminate deliberate and random combinations of methods. This prevented the participants from expecting lucidity, forming intentions, or contemplating the subject during the day. During the half-hour of wakefulness at night, the subjects read a fairy tale, which they were to memorize. They were led to believe that it was a memory development experiment.
In the morning, immediately after waking up, the participants completed a detailed questionnaire. The results show that 5% of the subjects experienced lucid dreaming during one test night (an additional 7% were unsure). The scientists also noted the negative aspects of this technique—notably, 30% reported difficulties falling asleep after the nighttime awakening, suggesting that people prone to insomnia may need to seek other ways to achieve lucidity.
Have you ever used the WBTB technique? Share your results!
The article was published in February 2024 in Somnologie.
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