A study accepted in the journal Sleep last month (but not yet published) claims that lucid dreaming should be not be considered a REM dreaming phenomenon but rather a unique state of consciousness (Voss, et al., 2009). Poetically, the assertion that lucid dreaming has elements of waking consciousness and dreaming has been made for years. But this study, conducted at the Neurological Laboratory in Frankfurt, Germany, backs the assertion with physiological data taken with an EEG.
Despite the small sample size, Voss and company’s findings are intriguing. Specifically, lucid dreams are shown to differ from ordinary (REM) dreams by an increased brain frequency in the 40Hz (or GAMMA) range in the frontal and frontolateral areas of the brain. These areas are considered by many scientists to be the seat of linguistic thought, as well as other higher mental functions associated with self-awareness.
This “hybrid state” of waking and dreaming fits in well with study co-author Allan Hobson’s AIM model for sleep cognition. The AIM model essentially maps and predicts possible kinds of consciousness in sleep based on three different spectra:
- whether the imagery created is external or internally sourced,
- the activation levels of the brain, and
- the modulation of the state by brain chemicals.
Lucid dreaming, the authors say, can therefore be mapped separately from ordinary dreams due, in this case, to the unique activation on the GAMMA level. The authors say the next step is to test lucid dreaming in the lab with brain imagery devices, such as a fMRI.
The Quest for Uniting the Mind and the Brain
Finding the unique physiological markers of consciousness has long been the holy grail of science. We’ve had a few interesting theories along the way. For instance, Rene Descartes put his money on the pineal gland, while today other scientists say consciousness is a product of microtubules in the brain’s neurons.
Lucid dreaming research is really an off-shoot of this scientific tradition, especially as it looks for physical markers that coincide with subjective qualities such as self-awareness or free will. (For an introduction to lucid dreaming, here’s my beginner’s guide.)
In the 1980s, many psychologists predicted that ALPHA level frequencies ((8-12 Hz) would clearly demark lucid dreams from ordinary dreams – but further studies showed that ALPHA levels remain more or less depressed through most of sleep, including even the most lucid of dreams. (Olgivie, Vieri, Small, 1991)
More recently, Holzinger, LaBerge and Levitan published a study (2006) emphasizing how the BETA-1 (13-19 Hz) frequency band is associated with lucid dreams, more so than ordinary dreams. They further isolated this small, but statistically significant, hiccup of activity to the parietal lobe, an area of the brain associated with spatial sense and navigation.
In any case, wherever consciousness may or may not “live”, the high levels of GAMMA range of activation shown in this study need more tests with larger pools of subjects before we can say with any certainty that lucidity has a reproducible physical signature.
Brain Entrainment, Intentionality and Lucid Dreaming
Interestingly, the 40 Hz bandwidth of brain activity has a popular following in brain entrainment, a form of neuro-hynotherapy whose adherents say induces brain synchronization by listening to music with frequencies that the brain matches in response. Anecdotally, many lucid dreamers claim to have learned lucid dreaming with the help of these brain entrainment tools, such as binaural beats and light stimuli inside of sleep masks.
Now just because GAMMA may be correlated with consciousness does not necessarily mean that listening to GAMMA-inducing binaural beats will automatically increase your lucid dreams. Actually, there’s no peer-reviewed study on lucid dreaming and brain entrainment. However, there’s plenty of evidence that brain entrainment can increase concentration, memory, and induce relaxation: all states of mind that can indirectly lead to lucid dreams.
Most lucid dreaming brain entrainment tools available today focus on the DELTA and THETA waves, essentially paving the way for a relaxing yet alert descent into sleep onset and REM sleep. Timing is important, too; I’ll discuss more about lucid dreaming incubation techniques using binaural beats soon.
There are some correlations for the GAMMA band and consciousness, so we may see some new products on the market soon. The literature is tempting, as the 40hz band has been shown to be associated with high levels of meditation (Lutz, et al 2004) as well as the ability to be hypnotized (De Pascalis, 1993). Reduced GAMMA synchronization, on the other hand, has recently been associated with autism (Rojas, 2008).
Keep in mind — I know I sound like a broken record about this point — no lucid dreaming pill, meditation CD, or expensive biofeedback software will make you lucid. Lucidity comes by grace of intentionality, which in turn brings a cognitive habit of self-awareness. Or vice versa, by grace of spontaneous awareness, calling for a habit of intentionality.
However, binaural beats for lucid dreaming can help with laying the cognitive foundation for a strong intention and for becoming more comfortable with self-awareness in other states of consciousness, which is by far the biggest hurdle in learning how to lucid dream. The most successful binaural beats for lucid dreaming take this approach. Entrainment (which can happen through the habit of many kinds of rituals and exercises) concretizes our intentions, — the idea is made external — while boosting the brain states that lucidity thrives within.
But still, we have to do the hard work of waking up ourselves.
Lucid Dreaming: A Separate State of Consciousness?
Beyond the possible application of future GAMMA brainwave entrainment, this study really makes a bold claim that lucid dreaming is not a dream, but a separate state of consciousness.
To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about this designation.
From a phenomenological perspective, self-awareness in dreams comes and goes. Lucidity is not an On-Off switch, but a spectrum. In fact, there’s several kinds of spectra, from volition (dream control) to self-awareness (“I’m dreaming”) to emotional meta-cognition markers (“I am angry: I wonder why.”) Voss’s and Hobson’s definition of lucid dreaming is too general to get a sense for what particular aspect of self-awareness is amplified during lucid dreams.
However, some lucid dreams really do feel like an unique state of consciousness with the best aspects of dreaming and waking cognition. For this reason, anthropologist and neurophilosopher Micheal Winkelman (2000) has called lucid dreaming a “shamanic state of consciousness,” because it “integrates the potentials of dreaming and waking consciousness” (p. 135). And consciousness scholar Harry Hunt (1988) has said that lucid dreaming is really a peak experience the way Abraham Maslow used the word, as a state defined by clarity, exhilaration, and openness. So there is some support from the transpersonal psychologists (who study altered states for a living) on this idea of lucid dreaming as a distinct state in its own right.
In sum, because cultural styles of what “lucidity” means affect which brain areas activate during a so-called lucid dream, the GAMMA signature should be taken with a grain of salt. That said, if the 40 Hz signature can be repeated clinically, then lucid dreaming could help neuroscientists find other markers of conscious thought in sleep, leading towards a renaissance of directed and unconstrained brain mapping. This, over time, has the potential to revise our understanding about the interaction between mind and matter.
Cited:
De Pascalis, V. (1993). EEG spectral analysis during hypnotic induction, hypnotic dream and age reduction. International journal of psychophysiology, 15(2), pp.153-166.
Holzinger, B. Laberge, S., Levitan, L., (2006) Psychophsiological correlates of lucid dreaming. Dreaming. 16(2), pp. 88-95.
Hunt, H. (1989). The multiplicity of dreams: memory, imagination and consciousness. Yale University Press.
Hurd, R. (2009) Lucid dreaming science: new evidence of GAMMA band activation. Lucid Dream Exchange, Fall 2009.
Lutz, A., Greishar, L., Rawlings, N., Ricar, M., Davidson, R.J. (2004). Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice. Proceedings National Academy Science, USA 101(46), pp. 16369-16373.
Ogilvie, R., Vierna, K., Small, R. (1991). EEG activity during lucid dreaming. Lucidity 10 (1&2), pp. 224-226.
Rojas DC, Maharajh K, Teale P, Rogers SJ. (2008). Reduced neural synchronization of gamma-band MEG oscillations in first-degree relatives of children with autism. BMC Psychiatry. Aug 1;8:66
Voss, U., Holzmann, R., Tuin., Hobson, J.A. (2009). Lucid dreaming: a state of consciousness with features of both waking and non-lucid dreaming. Accepted but not published yet in Sleep. http://www.journalsleep.org/Accepted.aspx
Winkelman, M. (2000). Shamanism: the neural ecology of consciousness. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey.
This article is quite interesting. I have been working on BW entrainment of dream lucidity for quite some time. Quite a while ago, I honed in on a timing protocol and signal type which has a high probability of making me lucid. The technology itself is patent pending.
What is so interesting about this, is the method does not seem to have any cross tolerance with AcH boosting supps like Galantamine, Hupezine-A, etc…
It’s my speculation, that we are not as far as one would think, to dream lucidity for anyone who is willinig to explore one or more combinations of supplements and/or methods. For example, BW entrainment combined with other lucid dream supplements, etc …
As for my specific method, it gets me lucid about 95% of the time. That’s on par w/ galantamine for me. I’m fairly experienced at LDing, so that must be factored in of course.
All the best and great site
James
Thanks James! Pairing entrainment with supplements sounds intense. I have only tried one or the other, probably because I am too lazy to be that organized.
I encourage everyone to checkout http://mortalmist.com, a lucid dreaming forum that has discussions about these advanced lucid dreaming techniques with oneirology (lucid dream explorer) experts.
“Actually, there’s no peer-reviewed study on lucid dreaming and brain entrainment.”
What a shame!
This article is interesting… I’m not sure what I think about saying lucid dreaming is not dreaming but a different state of consciousness… I agree it is a different state, or a variation from the normal state of dreaming – for sure, actually – but like you said, there is no on and off switch; there is no B & W line. For me personally, my lucid dreams frequently become non-lucid when the dream just goes on its own accord and I forget to remember I’m dreaming. I don’t really understand how to reconcile this incredibly common event for lucid dreamers with this study saying they’re not really dreaming when consciously aware in a dream.
Whew – that was a mouthful.
PS To the other commentator – James, that is extremely fascinating! I am about to check out your site. I’ve used brainwave entrainment for years but it’s mainly just functioned as a sleep aid, drug enhancer, or relaxation device, not a lucid induction tool. I’m very interested in your research with BW entrainment resulting in high lucidity!
Hello – I am a lucid dreamer and have been my entire life. I used to want to go to bed early as a little girl just so I could dream and fly or spend time with the Beatles! LOL I found the statement of saying lucid dreaming is not dreaming but a different state of consciousness extremely interesting. I do feel as though it is a different state of consciousness. Sometimes the feelings that I have while lucid dreaming are so real to me that when I wake up, I feel as though I was in another life. I know that sounds weird, but it really is fascinating to me. I have friends that say they never dream, which is so sad to me. They have no idea what they are missing, especially if you are lucid dreamer! It’s a whole other world to me! Anyway, I just wanted to say what was on my mind. Does anyone out there know if there is a need for lucid dreamers for research reasons?
Happy New Year everyone! 🙂
Wow! I was also a lucid dreamer and as a little girl could not *wait* to go to bed. I could choose any dream I liked and create the most amazing playgrounds and narratives that could violate all rules of physics and common sense. It was awesome. For some reason, at around puberty, the ability left me entirely. Happened almost overnight. I went from being able to enter a lucid dream state almost every night to it disappearing entirely. I have not had dream control (although I have had fleeting moments of lucidity) since I was twelve years old. Any idea why that might happen? Is there something about changes in biochemistry around that age that might explain my loss of lucid dreaming? My dreams are still quite, quite vivid.
hey Jen, great question. many children are natural lucid dreamers. I’m not sure why we lose the ability: maybe it’s physiological changes in the brain that happen at puberty, or maybe you could rather frame it as losing the child’s “openness” to the world. the good news is that you can probably reclaim yout childhood ability with a little focus and perseverance. not quite like riding a bike, but a part of you still remembers….
i want to know , it is possible to build a little magnetic field generator by coil and frequencies generator into pillow for inducing lucid dreams or why not controlling brainwaves ?
I’m a very lucid dreamer. I experience things in all five senses. I would say about 90% of my dreams are lucid dreaming and it isn’t always fun and games. Often subconscious anxiety manifests as a negative influence in my dreams. The end result is the feeling that I haven’t slept. It also causes problems when my dreams are similar to real life situations. I confuse what was a dream with what really happens.
My favorite lucid dream was when I was sinking in a vast clear body of water with no top, bottom, or sides. I was drowning and couldn’t move or swim anywhere. As I let the last of my breath out and began taking in water. I saw death was near. Fear was taking over but I still couldn’t move and there was nothing I could do but allow my mind to race with panic. Then I became calm and thought to myself, “last I remember is laying back in the bath tube and then…” I began screaming WAKE UP, WAKE UP, defying the fact that I was under water and had no air in my lungs. I could hear my voice and knew what it was saying. I woke up splashing out of what was suppose to be my shallow watery grave.
Lucid dreaming saved my life.
To signal lucidity through a pattern of horizontal eye movements would obviously bring a lucid dreamer to a partial awake state even the lucidity starts when fully asleep. So, what they studied, by design, was lucid dreaming at a state of half asleep and half a wake. Thus, it was no surprise to see such EEG results. This study cannot justify their conclusion that “lucid dreaming constitutes a hybrid state of consciousness”.