Peters Emma, Bonamino Clarita, Fischer Kathrin, Erlacher Daniel
Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 145, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia.
Brain Sci. 2025 Aug 18;15(8):879. doi: 10.3390/brainsci15080879.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Lucid dreaming (LD), during which the dreamer becomes aware of the dream state, offers a unique opportunity for a variety of applications, including motor practice, personal well-being, and nightmare therapy. However, these applications largely depend on the dreamer's ability to control their dreams. While LD research has traditionally focused on induction techniques to increase dream frequency, the equally important skill of dream control remains largely underexplored. This study provides an exploration into the mechanisms of LD motor practice, dream control, and its potential influencing factors. We specifically examined whether a complex motor skill-juggling-could be performed during LD, calling for relatively high levels of dream control and access to procedural memory.
Four healthy participants underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG), provided detailed dream reports, and completed questionnaires assessing dream control and self-efficacy. Dream-task success was assessed using predefined in-dream motor performance criteria. Differences between high and low LD control participants were examined, and two detailed case reports of lucid dream juggling attempts provide insight into the challenges of executing complex motor tasks during LD.
Dream control varied between and within participants. Both dream control and self-efficacy seemed to predict participants' ability to execute the LD motor task.
Despite the low sample size, this study highlights the potential roles of individual traits like self-efficacy in shaping dream control abilities and motor performance during LD. By using empirical, task-based measures, this study helps build the foundation for future research aimed at optimizing LD applications in clinical and non-clinical fields.
背景/目的：清醒梦（LD）是指做梦者意识到自己处于梦境状态，它为包括运动练习、个人幸福感和噩梦治疗在内的各种应用提供了独特的机会。然而，这些应用在很大程度上取决于做梦者控制梦境的能力。虽然清醒梦研究传统上侧重于诱导技术以提高梦境频率，但同样重要的梦境控制技能在很大程度上仍未得到充分探索。本研究对清醒梦运动练习、梦境控制及其潜在影响因素的机制进行了探索。我们特别研究了在清醒梦中是否可以执行一项复杂的运动技能——杂耍，这需要较高水平的梦境控制和对程序记忆的访问。
四名健康参与者接受了夜间多导睡眠图（PSG）检查，提供了详细的梦境报告，并完成了评估梦境控制和自我效能感的问卷。使用预先定义的梦中运动表现标准评估梦境任务的成功情况。研究了高清醒梦控制参与者和低清醒梦控制参与者之间的差异，两份关于清醒梦杂耍尝试的详细案例报告深入探讨了在清醒梦中执行复杂运动任务的挑战。
参与者之间以及参与者内部的梦境控制各不相同。梦境控制和自我效能感似乎都能预测参与者执行清醒梦运动任务的能力。
尽管样本量较小，但本研究强调了自我效能感等个体特质在塑造清醒梦期间的梦境控制能力和运动表现方面的潜在作用。通过使用基于任务的实证测量方法，本研究为未来旨在优化清醒梦在临床和非临床领域应用的研究奠定了基础。
