Lucid dreaming:
Lucid dreaming is a mix of waking and sleeping states, as one becomes consciously aware they are in a dream. It involves heightened activity in the prefrontal cortex which is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as self awareness, understanding, and interpretation. In REM sleep the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the anterior prefrontal cortex experiences deactivation, allowing for vivid imagery and emotional intensity in dreams without logical thought and self awareness impacting it. However, during lucid dreaming, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the anterior prefrontal cortex becomes hyperactive as the dreamer experiences metacognition and is able to compare their internal state to reality and control the dream experience.
Neuromodulation Techniques:
Experimental brain stimulation techniques such as the transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are being utilized to test the potential influence stimulating the frontal cortex during REM sleep with magnetic pulses or electrical currents has on lucid dreaming. Since lucid dreaming has been observed to have increased frontal activity during REM sleep, experiments have been run to test whether or not stimulating the areas would increase the chance of lucid dreaming. One problem utilizing these brain stimulation techniques during sleep studies is that the surrounding noise and tactile sensations have the possibility of affecting the subjects by incubating into the dream which would increase the potential of them becoming aware of their dreaming state, and therefore more likely to lucid dream.
Practical Uses:
Dream manipulation could be used as a therapeutic tool to allow individuals with recurrent nightmares to control them. Although most people experience occasional nightmares, people who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or severe depression are more likely to experience recurrent nightmares which often lead to distress and insomnia. If the subjects were able to gain awareness during the nightmare and become lucid they would be able to wake themselves up or change the context of the dream to turn it into a neutral or pleasant one.
Conclusion:
Studies that use electrical brain stimulation (TMS and tDCS) has shown an impact on dream cognition but a reliable method to induce lucid dreams consistently through electrical stimulation of the brain is yet to be found. However, with more research and development in the field it is likely that a more reliable method will be found.
References
Voss, Ursula, et al. “Lucid Dreaming: A State of Consciousness with Features of Both Waking and Non-Lucid Dreaming.” Sleep, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2737577/.
Stumbrys , Tadas, et al. “Testing the Involvement of the Prefrontal Cortex in Lucid Dreaming: A tDCS Study.” Consciousness and Cognition, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2013, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24021850/.
Mota-Rolim , Sérgio A., and John F. Araujo. “Neurobiology and Clinical Implications of Lucid Dreaming.” Medical Hypotheses, Churchill Livingstone, 6 July 2013, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030698771300279X#:~:text=During%20waking%2C%20transcranial%20magnetic%20stimulation,during%20REMS%20could%20trigger%20LD.
Baird, Benjamin, et al. “The Cognitive Neuroscience of Lucid Dreaming.” Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, U.S. National Library of Medicine, May 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6451677/.
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