- Visual Statistic -

    The picture above is a topographic image from a 2009 study done in Frankfurt, Germany in a Neurological Laboratory. The colors from red to blue on the side indicate brain activity with red being most active and blue being relatively inactive. The top image is an example of a brain when awake, the bottom is when one is lucid dreaming, and the last is when one reaches the deepest level of sleep, REM. From the image, we can see that lucid dreaming activates the brain enough that there is both activity and inactivity with the most activity towards the parietal (side) and frontal (front) of the brain. These are sections of the brain that have been found to be needed for waking memory, self-reflective awareness, and insight. Because these parts of the brain are active, it suggests a hybrid state of consciousness that has definable and measurable differences when compared to wake and REM sleep. Basically, this means that there are certain parts of the brain that are active during lucid dreaming that cause the dreamer to be aware that they are dreaming and are not awake. This is key to my paper because it is novel research that acts as tangible evidence of the reality of lucid dreaming and what parts are affected. Understanding the neurophysiology is also important because, in order to use lucid dreaming as an intervention, understanding what occurs allows researchers to investigate further inquires and theories, such as the efficacy of lucid dreaming as a therapeutic intervention for nightmare disorders.

 - Revised Research Question and Current Works Cited - 

Main Research Question → 

        Supporting Questions ⦂

 - Literature Review #3 - 

~ Citation ~ 

Cognitions in Sleep: Lucid Dreaming as an Intervention for Nightmares in Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

 - Final Research Proposal - 

~ WORKING TITLE~

~ TOPIC DESCRIPTION ~

~ RESEARCH QUESTION ~

~ THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ~

           Unfortunately, this study was done in the Netherlands and not in the United States so the statistics may be off, but the articles that were cited in its intro can help look at the relationship between lucid dreaming and nightmares globally. I will also be looking at the relationship between lucid dreaming and video games, and so a part of my paper will be discussing how video games can help supplement LDT and possibly encourage greater effectiveness. Because the topic seems to be approaching a more psychological lens, I have more interest due to my major being psychology and my general interest in unconventional treatment methods for different mental illnesses/disorders such as the use of VR, virtual reality, with patients suffering from PTSD. There will also be a lot more neuroscience than I initially thought as there lucid dreaming has been proven to be a real phenomenon that the brain undergoes and can train to do. And so, I will be trying my best to deliver the terms as clearly as I can.

~ CASE(S) or EXAMPLES ~

    There is a book titled Emotions, Technology, and Digital Games written by Johnathan Brown and Jayne Gackenbach that has a chapter titled Video games, Nightmares, and Emotional Processing. In this chapter, Gackenbach and Brown summarize the research that supports the hypothesis that playing video games can help grant gamers protection from nightmares and that this can alter emotional processing and regulation during the daytime when they are awake. There is something that is called the nightmare protection effect that is mentioned in the chapter to be related to threat stimulation theories that suggest that humans have the basic need of wanting to rehearse threatening situations as a form of survival adaptation. And so, the usage of violent video gameplay may help to subvert this process and thus remove the need for nightmare virtual rehearsal. It also mentioned that those who participated were students and active-duty soldiers and that females were not included in the study. Thus, making one of my examples being an examination of male students and active-duty soldiers who play violent video games and their effects concerning nightmares and how they may be connected to lucid dreaming. 

~ WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY ~

 - Literature Review #2 - 

~ Citation ~
Induction of lucid dreams: A systematic review of evidence 

All involved in the production of the article are individuals who are related to the institutes of sports and sport sciences, psychology, and mental health. Each has also participated in the authorship of numerous other articles that have contributed to the study of dreams and sleep. 

~ Summary ~ 

     This article compiles evidence in order to review the taxonomy of lucid dreaming and its induction methods. This includes the cognitive methods, external stimulation, and drug applications that are related to the topic. In addition, the article highlights that none of the induction techniques presented work on demand but have some potential in doing so. Furthermore, the taxonomy of these methods is presented with evidence of effectiveness levels to verify each, and considerations for future methodology and directions are given to further the research on lucid dreaming.

    The introduction is divided into two subsections; (1) Lucid Dreams and (2) Induction techniques and their classifications. The former defines LD as potentially needing seven aspects in order to be proclaimed as lucidity in dreams. These are as follows; (1) clarity about the state of consciousness (2) clarity about the freedom of choice (3) clarity of consciousness (4) clarity about the waking life (5) clarity of perception (6) clarity about the meaning of the dream (7) clarity recollecting the dream. Out of these seven, 1-4 are required prerequisites of LD. However, they also state that dream lucidity is a continuum with different degrees of lucidity and cannot be examined as an all-or-nothing phenomenon. There is also brief history where it is mentioned that LD was known since the age of Aristotle, but it was only proven in a sleep laboratory less than 50 years ago through the measurement of rapid-eye-movement (REM) that correspond with dreamed gaze shifts. Afterward, there is a section that discusses the neuroscience behind LD by describing what parts of the brain light up during LD. This is then followed up by a brief mention of the importance of recognizing the differences of LD across cultures and ages, but it is a skill that can be learned. Nightmare treatment is also mentioned and it is mentioned once again how important it is to look into induction techniques to find reliable ones that can aid in frequency and treatment. 

    The latter section discusses the different classifications of induction techniques throughout history. First beginning with two categories; (1) presleep induction (i.e. intentional techniques [reflection of dream awareness, engagement with focused activities] and unintentional considerations [situations during the day, individual propensities] and (2) sleep induction [ divided into two parts; internal and external]. This then became three categories; (1)lucid-awareness training [cultivation of proper waking attitude to promote lucidity], (2) intention and suggestion techniques [triggering of LD through the act of will or suggestion], (3) cue "REM-minding" techniques [the involvement of tactile, auditory, and other external stimuli presented during REM that triggers lucidity]. The paper then states that while these classifications make sense, they will be using an empirically based classification in combination with an extensive systemic review of induction evidence in order to define induction techniques into three broad categories; (1) cognitive techniques, (2) external stimulation, (3) miscellaneous techniques.

 The proceeding sections continue to examine the evidence from previous research and explain the relevance and limitations of each in order to make the statement the review is a new starting point for LD science and has potential in both research and practical application. 

~ Quotes ~

1. "None of inductions techniques were verified to induce dreams reliably, consistently, and with a higher success rate...Most lucid dream induction methods produced only slight effects, although some of the techniques look promising." (1469)

2. " While in most cases lucidity is attained when a dreamer recognizes a prearranged external stimulus as a cue in the dream that he or she is dreaming, in some cases an external cue can trigger lucidity even without being actively recognized by the dreamer..." (1470) 

3. " One of the major issues concerning lucid dream induction research in general is what to define a valid criterion for successful induction." (1472)

~ Value ~

 - Literature Review #1 - 

~ Citation ~ 

My Dream, My Rules: Can Lucid Dreaming Treat Nightmares?

1. "At the psychological level, Rousseau and Belleville [2017] gathers possible mechanisms by which LDT and other similar treatments work, which are: modification of beliefs [Krakow et al., 2000], prevention of avoidance [Pruiksma, 2012], decreased arousal [Davis, 2009], restoration of sleep functions [Germain, 2002], emotional processing [Davis et al., 2007], and a sense of mastery [Spoormaker et al., 2003]" (page 5)

2. "Initially, 'just wake up' could be a useful weapon until a minimum sense of control is developed; however it is necessary to practice for the LD scenario does not fade away causing the awakening, which allows the dreamer to explore other possibilities and face their fears" (page 6) 

3. "Lucid nightmares maybe even more terrifying than common nightmares...lucid nightmare frequency is associated not only to nightmare frequency but also to LD frequency [Stumbrys, 2018]...makes patients with nightmares very vulnerable to lucid nightmares in a LDT." (page 6)

 ~ Value ~ 

This article is very valuable because it points out the importance of differentiating the nightmare disorder so that the use of LDT can be used effectively. It also discusses comorbidity between multiple disorders with the nightmare disorder and how that can impact the effectiveness of LDT. It also has the potential to be the foundation of my paper by providing me with a base that I can use to further my paper. Additionally, it mentions important terms that need to be looked into such as lucid nightmares, nightmare frequency, nightmare distress, recurrent nightmares, and idiopathic nightmares.  

- LUCID DREAMING -