Neural Correlates of Dream Lucidity Obtained from Contrasting Lucid versus Non-Lucid REM Sleep: A Combined EEG/fMRI Case Study
SLEEP June 29, 2012 Martin Dresler, Renate Wehrle, Victor I. Spoormaker et al. 271 citations
Lucid dreaming—being aware that one is dreaming—is associated with reactivation of brain areas that are normally deactivated during REM sleep. In one experienced lucid dreamer who had two episodes of verified lucid REM sleep long enough for fMRI analysis, the bilateral precuneus, cuneus, parietal lobules, and prefrontal and occipito-temporal cortices showed strong activation compared with non-lucid REM sleep. This pattern may explain the return of reflective cognitive abilities that characterize lucid dreaming.