Lucid Dreaming Frequency Predicted by Integrated Gray–White Matter Networks: A Multimodal MRI Study
Authorea Preprints August 18, 2025
Lucid dreaming—being aware of dreaming while still in the dream—relies on brain systems separate from those for ordinary dream recall. Using a multimodal neuroimaging approach, the study found that the frequency of lucid dreaming was predicted by a joint gray-matter and white-matter component involving frontal, temporal, parietal, and cerebellar regions tied to metacognition, imagery, and volitional control, plus a gray-matter-specific component in visual and attentional areas like the cuneus. Ordinary dream recall was linked only to two white-matter-specific components with no overlap. The results indicate that the tendency for lucid dreams depends on distributed, structurally covarying brain systems distinct from those for general dream recall.