The actions of a person in a lucid dream (LD) can have an impact on their real physical body. Numerous experiments testing this phenomenon have already been conducted; popular options include sports training in LDs and the treatment of nightmares. Researchers from REMspace—Andrey Shashkov, Michael Raduga, and Zhanna Zhunusova—decided to investigate whether this extends to the feeling of a decrease in temperature.
Ninety-two participants were instructed to get into a LD via the method of their choice, and then instigate a cooling sensation. To do this, the lucid dreamers travelled to the North Pole, entered a large refrigerator, immersed themselves in an icy river, or a bath with liquid nitrogen. Having felt the effect, the dreamers were asked to wake up and assess their waking state.
By the end of the experiment, 88% of participants achieved their goal in a lucid dream. After waking up, more than half of the dreamers continued to experience cold: 41% for a few seconds, 17% for a few minutes. One volunteer remained “frozen” for about an hour. Women may be better at achieving this effect, but a larger sample is needed to confirm. However, those who were colder in the dream experienced a stronger chill in reality.
Of course, in the future, it is necessary to check the data in the laboratory and with sensors, which is the next step the researchers plan to take after this pilot study. Such experiments are needed to study the spectrum of possible effects dreams can have on the body and to develop new methods of treatment from within LDs.
Have you ever transferred physical sensations from a lucid dream to reality?
The preprint of the article was published in February 2023 on PsyArXiv.
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