Dreams have been responsible for some major creative and scientific discoveries in the course of human history.No longer dismissed by psychologists as random neuron firings or meaningless fantasies, dreams are now considered an ongoing thought process that just happens to occur while we are asleep.

Dreams

Lucid dreams are when you know that you’re dreaming while you’re asleep.You’re aware that the events flashing through your brain aren’t really happening. But the dream feels vivid and real. You may even be able to control how the action unfolds, as if you’re directing a movie in your sleep.Studies suggest that about half of people may have had at least one lucid dream.

Lucid Dreams

Asleep you can experience many hours whilst only a few waking moments have passed. This is why dreams are an ideal platform for training.

Sometimes lucid dreams happen spontaneously and you don’t have to work towards it. But if you want to consciously make it work for you then there are certain techniques to follow:<ul><li>Reality testing</li><li>Dream diary</li><li>Wake-back-to-bed</li><li>Mnemonic induction of lucid dreams (MILD)</li></ul>

How to Lucid Dream

This is when you pause at different times of the day to see whether you’re dreaming.You can try to do something impossible, like push your finger through your palm or inhale through a closed mouth. Or you can do something that's usually hard to do in a dream, like read a page in a book.

Reality Checking

When you write down your dreams, you’re forced to remember what happens during each dream. It’s said to help you recognize dreamsigns and enhance awareness of your dreams.Log your dreams as soon as you wake up. It’s also recommended to read your dream journal often.

Dream Diary

Wake back to bed (WBTB) involves entering REM sleep while you’re still conscious.To WBTB:<ol><li>Set an alarm for five hours after your bedtime.</li><li>Go to sleep as usual.</li><li>When the alarm goes off, stay up for 30 minutes. Enjoy a quiet activity like reading.</li><li>Fall back asleep.</li></ol>

Wake back to bed (WBTB)

To use the MILD technique:<ol><li>As you fall asleep, think of a recent dream.</li><li>Identify a “dreamsign,” or something that’s irregular or strange in the dream. An example is the ability to fly.</li><li>Think about returning to the dream. Acknowledge that the dreamsign only happens when you dream.</li><li>Tell yourself, "The next time I dream, I want to remember that I am dreaming." Recite the phrase in your head.</li></ol>

Mnemonic induction of lucid dreams (MILD)

<ul><li>Less anxiety. When you’re aware that you’re in a dream, you can shape the story and the ending. That might serve as therapy for people who have nightmares, teaching them how to control their dreams.</li><li>Better motor skills. Visualizing physical movements in lucid dream can increase the actual ability to do them.</li><li>Improved problem-solving. Lucid dreams can help people solve problems that deal with creativity.</li><li>More creativity. Some people taking part in lucid dream studies were able to come up with new ideas or insights, sometimes with the help of characters in their dreams.</li></ul>

Benefits of Lucid Dreams

<h2>What Are Lucid Dreams?</h2>Lucid dreams are when you know that you’re&nbsp;<a href="https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/rm-quiz-dreams" data-metrics-link="" dir="ltr">dreaming</a>&nbsp;while you’re asleep.You’re aware that the events flashing through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.webmd.com/brain/picture-of-the-brain" data-metrics-link="" dir="ltr">your brain</a>&nbsp;aren’t really happening. But the dream feels vivid and real. You may even be able to control how the action unfolds, as if you’re directing a movie in your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/default.htm" data-metrics-link="" dir="ltr">sleep</a>.Studies suggest that about half of people may have had at least one lucid dream. But they probably don’t happen often, usually only a handful of times in a year.<h2>When Do Lucid Dreams Happen?</h2>Lucid dreams are most common during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a period of very deep sleep marked by eye motion, faster breathing, and more brain activity.You usually enter REM sleep about 90 minutes after falling asleep. It lasts about 10 minutes. As you sleep, each REM period is longer than the one before, finally lasting up to an hour.<h2>Lucid Dreams Research</h2>Neuroscientists don’t know exactly how and why lucid dreams happen. But they have some ideas.For one thing, studies have found physical differences in the brains of people who do and don’t have lucid dreams. The very front part of the brain, called the prefrontal cortex -- the site of high-level tasks like making decisions and recalling memories -- is bigger in people who have lucid dreams. That suggests that folks who are most likely to have lucid dreams tend to be self-reflective types who chew over thoughts in their heads.One small study in Germany tracked brain electrical activity in volunteers as they slept. Based on these measurements, the researchers say, lucid dreaming may be kind of a “between state” where you aren’t fully awake but not quite asleep, either.Some sleep scientists believe that lucid dreams may also happen just outside of REM sleep, which many long thought was the only time when you dream.<UL><LI>1</LI><LI>2</LI></UL><div pager="5"> View All</div>

Lucid dreaming is a phenomenon but isn’t uncommon. Some people can have very vivid dreams and even control their actions in them. Learn the latest research, and how you can potentially teach yourself to lucid dream.

Stashed ideas

Lucid dreams are when you know that you’re <a data-metrics-link="" dir="ltr" href="https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/rm-quiz-dreams">dreaming </a> while you’re asleep.

You’re aware that the events flashing through <a data-metrics-link="" dir="ltr" href="https://www.webmd.com/brain/picture-of-the-brain">your brain </a> aren’t really happening. But the dream feels vivid and real. You may even be able to control how the action unfolds, as if you’re directing a movie in your <a data-metrics-link="" dir="ltr" href="https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/default.htm">sleep </a>.

Studies suggest that about half of people may have had at least one lucid dream. But they probably don’t happen often, usually only a handful of times in a year.

Lucid dreams are most common during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a period of very deep sleep marked by eye motion, faster breathing, and more brain activity.

You usually enter REM sleep about 90 minutes after falling asleep. It lasts about 10 minutes. As you sleep, each REM period is longer than the one before, finally lasting up to an hour.

Neuroscientists don’t know exactly how and why lucid dreams happen. But they have some ideas.

For one thing, studies have found physical differences in the brains of people who do and don’t have lucid dreams. The very front part of the brain, called the prefrontal cortex -- the site of high-level tasks like making decisions and recalling memories -- is bigger in people who have lucid dreams. That suggests that folks who are most likely to have lucid dreams tend to be self-reflective types who chew over thoughts in their heads.

One small study in Germany tracked brain electrical activity in volunteers as they slept. Based on these measurements, the researchers say, lucid dreaming may be kind of a “between state” where you aren’t fully awake but not quite asleep, either.

Some sleep scientists believe that lucid dreams may also happen just outside of REM sleep, which many long thought was the only time when you dream.

Dreams

Lucid Dreams

Lucid Dreams

WAYNE GERARD TROTMAN

How to Lucid Dream

Reality Checking

Dream Diary

Wake back to bed (WBTB)

Mnemonic induction of lucid dreams (MILD)

Benefits of Lucid Dreams

10 Interesting Facts About Dreams

45 Facts About Dreams: Sex Dreams, Nightmares, Fun Info, and More

False Awakening: Meaning, Causes, When to Worry