The Power of Dreams: Mapping Brain and Body Responses in Lucid Dreaming
Have you ever been asleep and realized you were in a dream, and were able to change the structure or outcome as you pleased? This type of dreaming is called lucid dreaming, which is the ability to recognize and sometimes control your own dreams. Not everyone has experienced lucid dreaming, and not everyone who becomes aware they are dreaming has been able to affect the outcomes of their dreams.
Lucid Dreaming and Brain Activity
Lucid dreaming has become an interesting area of research. Studies have shown that lucid sleep activates brain regions responsible for higher-order cognition, including the prefrontal cortex, the parietal lobe, and the occipital lobe. These areas are responsible for important processes, including planning, memory, information processing, self-monitoring, and emotional regulation. Furthermore, in frequent lucid dreamers, scientists have observed enhanced connectivity between their frontal and parietal networks, as well as increased volume in brain gray matter —features associated with introspection, cognitive flexibility, and emotional regulation.
Although the neural characteristics of lucid dreaming are increasingly well understood, researchers still question whether the experience itself might result in lasting changes in a person’s brain and nervous system that persist into their waking life. Furthermore, using the science of intention to guide lucid dreaming may help support mental wellness. For example, according to theoretical models, lucid dreaming may help individuals process trauma by aiding them in intentionally changing upsetting dream content and promoting improved emotional and cognitive control.
Our most recent lucid dreaming study, Exploring the neural effects of lucid dreaming workshops: An EEG and HRV pilot study, published in the International Journal of Dream Research, investigates the possibility that lucid dreaming interventions may result in measurable changes in the brain and body.
Measuring Potential Physiological Indicators of Lucid Dreaming
Participants were drawn from a larger randomized controlled trial on lucid dreaming and trauma recovery, with 11 participants ultimately included in this pilot study. Each person completed brief guided meditations before and after a six-day at-home lucid dreaming workshop designed to help them engage safely with their dream life and reduce trauma-related distress. The program consisted of 22 hours of live, online instruction and group activities, facilitated by trained practitioners, with psychotherapeutic support available to participants throughout the study.
To assess neural and physiological changes, researchers used specialized headbands to measure each participant’s brainwave activity (EEG), heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and movement. Brain activity and heart rate variability (HRV) data were processed using the EEGLAB BrainBeats plugin, yielding metrics to help illuminate the interaction between thinking and feeling that shapes behaviors and self-control.
Subtle but Meaningful Shifts Observed
In our lucid dreaming study, although most EEG and HRV measures showed no significant change, one notable pattern emerged. After the workshop, participants’ brain activity shifted from left-sided dominance to more right-sided dominance. This increased left-hemisphere cortical activation suggests that participants may have experienced an improved ability to translate emotional or dream experiences into coherent, intelligible narratives, which could facilitate reflection and discussion. Although this was an unexpected finding, as the right-hemisphere activity is often linked with creative and imagery-based aspects of dreaming, this shift could represent a complementary function where the brain converts symbolic dream experiences into structured, conscious thinking.
Next Steps in Lucid Dreaming Research
These preliminary findings suggest that guided lucid dreaming may influence the brain’s balance between reflective and emotional processes. While this study is limited by its small sample size and exploratory design, it demonstrates that remote, real-world brainwave activity and heart rate variability evaluations are feasible tools for tracking subtle neural changes associated with consciousness practices.
Future studies could combine objective data with subjective reports to explore how the participants’ lived experiences correspond with measurable brain–heart patterns. Larger and more diverse samples, as well as extended follow-ups, could help determine whether these effects persist and whether they contribute to emotional healing or cognitive growth. Ultimately, this pilot study supports the idea that lucid dreaming may activate mechanisms of both self-awareness and integration, bridging the gap between the dreaming and waking mind, and perhaps deepening our understanding of how to train consciousness itself.
