For a long time, scientists and creative individuals have known that it’s possible to find solutions to complex problems in dreams, especially lucid dreams. American researchers conducted an experiment where a group of volunteers solved puzzles in their dreams that they hadn’t been able to crack while awake. Karen Konkoly led the research team, which also included Ken Paller (both are continuously engaged with the topic of lucid dreams).
The authors recruited 21 experienced lucid dreamers, who were given several puzzles, including matchstick puzzles, word puzzles, and rebuses, all of which required a creative approach. While a participant was solving a puzzle, a specific sound (a different one for each puzzle) was played. If a person couldn’t solve the task, they were to continue working on it in their dream. While lucid dreams were ideal, it was also possible to solve the tasks in a regular dream: to nudge the participant toward the desired scenario, they were played the corresponding sound during the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase. After waking, they would try to solve the puzzle again.
The results are encouraging. Dreams in which images of the puzzles appeared increased the chances that the person would solve the puzzle. This was especially true in cases when the sound triggered a dream about the specific task. In such cases, the probability of solving the puzzle increased from 19% to 40%. However, receptivity is important. Participants were not successful if their dream wasn’t lucid and the signal didn’t provoke the desired scenario.
Have you ever solved complex problems in a (regular or lucid) dream?
The preprint of the article was published in June 2025 on OSF.
Get all the latest news about lucid dreams via our channels on Telegram, Facebook, Twitter
