With its increasing popularity among practitioners, the phenomenon of lucid dreaming is also finding itself under growing criticism on the part of researchers. Some scientists go so far as to condemn the use of control in dreams and its ramifications on our consciousness. In July 2020 an article was published by Caroline L. Horton from the Bishop Grosseteste University, England, in which the author calls for caution in exercising control over your dreams.
Horton explains that consciousness in lucid dream includes, in addition to memory, the processes of reality monitoring – mechanisms that are absent in ordinary dreams and change the principles of cognition familiar to us. According to the scientist, the awakening of consciousness in lucid dream (that is, upon entering the phase state) interrupts normal dream protocol, which is very important for the working processes of memory and the regulation of emotions. These processes can be obstructed during dream management. Self-awareness also leads to awakenings and disruptions in the structure and physiological procedures of sleep.
While lucid dreaming certainly has therapeutic benefits – for example, in treating nightmares or post-traumatic stress disorder – one has to exercise caution when using such practices in everyday life, the author adds.
Michael Raduga from the Phase Research Center comments: “From the point of view of possible sleep disruptions, one has no choice but to agree with these studies. Therefore, it should be remembered that only healthy sleep guarantees successful phase practice. However, fears of dream control leading to dysfunction in normal sleep processes are irrelevant. Most likely, Caroline L. Horton is not a practitioner and simply does not know that even experienced practitioners allot but a tiny percentage of their sleep time to the phase experience”.
Who do you think is right: M. Raduga or Caroline L. Horton?
The study was published in July 2020 in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
