Neuropsychopharmacological Induction of (Lucid) Dreams: A Narrative Review.

Lucid dreaming, a state where dreamers know they are dreaming and may control the dream, is naturally rare, prompting interest in induction methods. This review examines neuropsychopharmacological approaches, covering sleep regulation, REM sleep control via neurotransmission, and the brain areas involved in lucidity. Substances that boost cholinergic or dopaminergic transmission, like galantamine, show potential for inducing lucid dreaming by increasing metacognition, REM sleep, or dream recall. However, the complexity of these neurotransmitter systems makes interpreting results challenging. The authors conclude that while promising, more research is needed to develop a reliable pharmacological method for inducing lucid dreaming.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Lucid dreaming (LD) is a physiological state of consciousness that occurs when dreamers become aware that they are dreaming, and may also control the oneiric content. In the general population, LD is spontaneously rare; thus, there is great interest in its induction. Here, we aim to review the literature on neuropsychopharmacological induction of LD. First, we describe the circadian and homeostatic processes of sleep regulation and the mechanisms that control REM sleep with a focus on neurotransmission systems. We then discuss the neurophysiology and phenomenology of LD to understand the main cortical oscillations and brain areas involved in the emergence of lucidity during REM sleep. Finally, we review possible exogenous substances-including natural plants and artificial drugs-that increase metacognition, REM sleep, and/or dream recall, thus with the potential to induce LD. We found that the main candidates are substances that increase cholinergic and/or dopaminergic transmission, such as galantamine. However, the main limitation of this technique is the complexity of these neurotransmitter systems, which challenges interpreting results in a simple way. We conclude that, despite these promising substances, more research is necessary to find a reliable way to pharmacologically induce LD.