Why do some people manage to get into a lucid dream (LD) almost on the first try, while others practice and practice, but the result still leaves much to be desired? Is it possible to predict in advance the success of a novice LD practitioner?
Previously, scientists have already noticed symptoms of predisposition to LD: narcolepsy, sleep paralysis, creativity, etc. Many studies talk about the interdependence of dream memory and LD, but this issue has never been studied in detail. We know that sleep disorders lead to various anomalies that can result in vivid dreams and even LD. But what about healthy sleep?
This question was raised by Michael Raduga (REMspace). In search of an answer, he interviewed 600 people who had tried to master LD. The data collected showed that even for people who fell within the optimal sleep range (7–9 hours) there was a pronounced correlation between dreams and the success of LD practice. The more a person is naturally inclined to remember their dreams, the easier it is for them to get into LDs, which are also on average longer and more vivid. Likewise, a correlation was found between the realism of the participants’ dreams and their success when it came to LD practice.
What is the reason for this? Recent studies have shown that a large number of dreams are associated with increased blood flow in the temporoparietal junction and medial prefrontal cortex of the brain. M. Raduga suggests that the same factor can determine the success of LD practice. The next step may be to compare the blood flow in the mentioned areas of the brain in people just starting out practicing LD and to follow their results.
Most novice practitioners believe that the key to success is choosing the right techniques and following them correctly. As reasonable as that sounds, the end result may not be entirely up to us. It is likely that some people might need a completely different approach, and conventional techniques will not do much to help them induce LD. Armed with this understanding, we can look for new solutions.
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The article was published in September 2022 in the journal Dreaming.
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