Lucid dreams, out-of-body experiences, and sleep paralysis are all referred to as phase states. Scientists in Argentina, led by Francisco Tomás Gallo, agree that all these phenomena imply enhanced cognitive abilities during dreams. But the authors ask whether there are differences between them.
The researchers collected information from 60 volunteers over two months, receiving almost a thousand reports in total. The authors compared ordinary and lucid dreams, as well as out-of-body experiences induced by sleep paralysis. They identified the following unique aspects of out-of-body experiences:
– More negative emotions
– Better control
– Higher agency
– Better insight
– More sensations and actions
– More supposed memories
– Poorer ability to move in the dream space
Based on this, the researchers concluded that out-of-body experiences are distinct from lucid dreams.
What phase states have you experienced? Can you tell us about their similarities and differences?
The article was published in October 2024 in Dreaming.
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