Characters in lucid dreams can act autonomously, as if they have their own perspective on the world. This conclusion was reached by Canadian researchers Zadra and Green, who analyzed a two-year experience of an artist practicing lucid dreaming. He asked the characters in his lucid dreams to draw something and carefully recorded their responses. This wasn’t just a case of the dreamer’s actions being mirrored—it was full-fledged co-creation.
Even in a well-controlled lucid dream, where it feels like you’re directing the storyline, it’s nearly impossible to predict the behavior of dream characters. They act unpredictably and react in completely unexpected ways. The authors believe that the brain deliberately conceals their intentions from us.
These findings build on previous research in which a group of nine participants were examined to study the behavior of characters in lucid dreams. It was found that the characters sometimes behaved as if they possessed consciousness. Now, the team of Canadian researchers discovered that dream characters may even demonstrate creative abilities. So, lucid dreaming is not only a tool for controlling the dream—it’s also a space for unexpected collaboration.
What do you think: do characters in lucid dreams have a consciousness of their own?
The article was published in May 2025 in Dreaming.
Get all the latest news about lucid dreams via our channels on Telegram, Facebook, Twitter
