The Phenomenology of Lucid Dreaming: An Online Survey

Abstract

In lucid dreams the dreamer is aware that he or she is dreaming. Although such dreams are not that uncommon, many aspects of lucid dream phenomenology are still unclear. An online survey was conducted to gather data about lucid dream origination, duration, active or passive participation in the dream, planned actions for lucid dreams, and other phenomenological aspects. Among the 684 respondents who filled out the questionnaire, there were 571 lucid dreamers (83.5%). According to their reports, lucid dreams most often originate spontaneously in adolescence. The average lucid dream duration is about 14 minutes. Lucid dreamers are likely to be active in their lucid dreams and plan to accomplish different actions (e.g., flying, talking with dream characters, or having sex), yet they are not always able to remember or successfully execute their intentions (most often because of awakening or hindrances in the dream environment). The frequency of lucid dream experience was the strongest predictor of lucid dream phenomenology, but some differences were also observed in relation to age, gender, or whether the person is a natural or self-trained lucid dreamer. The findings are discussed in light of lucid dream research, and suggestions for future studies are provided.

Testing the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in lucid dreaming: A tDCS study

“…In many cases the participants forgot to signal after becoming lucid in a dream. Our recent survey, which included 571 lucid dreamers, revealed that waking memory recall is often impaired in lucid dreams -in average lucid dreamers are able to recall only a half those actions that they plan in wakefulness for accomplishment in lucid dreams (Stumbrys, Erlacher, Johnson, & Schredl, 2013). In the present study these numbers were markedly lower.…”

A Survey Focusing on Lucid Dreaming, Metacognition, and Dream Anxiety in Medical Students

“…In a study that explored LD phenomenology, it was found that women had taken a less active role in developing dream plots than men during LD (16). This finding might be one of the possible explanations for having more control subscale points in males compared with females.…”

“…Also age, gender, some drugs and foods, stress, insomnia, too much study and work, and sexual intercourse are associated factors (8). In addition, Stumbrys et al (9) have reported that lucid dream phenomenology might be different between sexes.…”

Meta-Awareness During Day and Night

“…Mindfulness indeed differs from lucidity in the sense that mindfulness is non-judgemental and non-reactive (Malinowski, 2008). A mindful person does not have explicit intention to control his or her experience but rather to observe it, while in lucid dreams the dreamer is usually activespontaneously sets new goals for actions and tries to execute them (Stumbrys et al, 2014).…”

“…To further elucidate the hypothesized relationship between mindfulness while awake and lucid dreaming the present study aimed to overcome previous limitations by exploring this relationship in a sub-population with a high likelihood of lucid dreams (cf. Stumbrys, Erlacher, Johnson, & Schredl, 2014). Furthermore, we investigated the moderating influence of meditation practice in the relationship between mindfulness and dream lucidity.…”