In lucid dreaming, sensations can be more realistic than in waking life. However, they are sometimes vague, which is a problem. Researchers from REMspace (Andrey Shashkov, Michael Raduga, Anna Nav, and others) conducted an experiment on deepening techniques (i.e., techniques for increasing perception vividness) to find the most effective ones. The authors engaged 462 practitioners who tested eight popular techniques. The following rankings were obtained (the values in parentheses are the percentages of effectiveness and hyperrealism):
1. Palpation: actively touching objects in the surrounding space (88% and 25%).
2. Verbal commands: ordering the space to stabilize (79% and 23%).
3. Imagining wakefulness: in a dream, imagining physical reality around oneself (71% and 13%).
4. Warming up: performing active exercises (squats, push-ups, etc.) (69% and 12%).
5. Vibrations: feeling vibrations as if an electric current is passing through the body (61% and 10%).
6. Spinning: standing in place and rotating around one’s axis (61% and 14%).
7. Obscene expressions: starting to swear as emotionally as possible (60% and 11%).
8. Falling upside down: plunging/falling downward and continuing as far as possible (45% and 6%).
Palpation was found to be the most effective technique. Meanwhile, falling upside down not only ranked last but also led to awakening more often than the other techniques. Interestingly, obscene expressions were more helpful for women than for men. This could be because women less frequently use swear words, making this behavior more emotionally charged for them.
However, all methods influenced the vividness of perception in lucid dreaming to some extent. The authors suggest that the best method likely involves sensory sensations, physical activity, and confidence in success. A gradual comparison of all known techniques is planned.
How do you make your lucid dreams more vivid?
The article was published in February 2024 in Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice.
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