Lucid dreaming, also known as lucid dreaming, is a very realistic and fascinating experience in which the person is conscious that they are dreaming. Unfortunately, only about half of people are fortunate enough to experience a lucid dreaming state in their lifetime, and attempts to induce lucid dreaming have had rather mixed results so far. But a study published in the past may have uncovered one of the most effective ways to induce lucid dreaming.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Lucidity Institute in Hawaii have discovered a highly effective way of discretionary lucid dreaming, building on their previous research. With further research into the technique and confirmation of its safety, it may be possible to open the doors to a completely limitless world of imaginary fun and adventure.
An Alzheimer’s drug combined with lucid dreaming techniques
Researchers wanted to investigate how chemicals called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEls) might trigger lucid dreaming. Accordingly, the neurotransmitter acetylcholine helps modulate REM sleep, which is the stage in which a person dreams during sleep; AChEls, on the other hand, are thought to help this compound accumulate in the brain by inhibiting an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, which inactivates acetylcholine.
For this reason, researchers used lucid dream initiation protocols to see how a drug called galantamine, a mild AChEI known to have mild side effects, used to treat memory decline in Alzheimer’s, has effects on seeing and remembering lucid dreams. They studied 121 participants who had been trained in the MILD technique. As a result of this cognitive training combined with galantamine, ‘conscious’ things started to happen.
For three consecutive nights, participants received increasing doses of the drug, starting with a placebo, then 4 mg and then 8 mg on the last night. The participants, who woke up 4.5 hours after falling asleep each night, applied the dream initiation techniques and went back to sleep after taking their medication. As a result, the researchers observed that the combination of the dream induction technique applied with the Alzheimer’s drug actually triggered lucid dreams, with stronger results with higher doses.
In the phase taking ‘active’ placebo (0mg galantamine) but using the MILD technique, 14 percent of participants reported lucid dreaming, increasing to 27 percent with the 4mg dose and 42 percent with the 8mg dose. “This combined protocol resulted in a total of 69 (57 percent) of 121 participants successfully having lucid dreaming at an active dose of galantamine on at least one of two nights,” the researchers write in their paper. It is one of the most effective ways to awaken and promises to bring lucid dreaming to a wider population.” he adds.
“Like entering the holodeck where you can have any experience you can imagine in Star Trek”
So why is it so important to be able to consciously lucid dream? Of course, as we mentioned at the beginning of the article, it is not just about creating a sleep situation where people can have fun by checking what happens in their dreams. In addition, the research may also contribute to explaining the connections between lucid dreams and consciousness and help people confidently confront their fears and traumas while they are asleep.
On the research, psychologist Denholm Aspy from the University of Adelaide in Australia says, “This new method finally has the success rate we need to be able to research lucid dreaming properly.” however, this does not mean that the method is not fully secure yet. Accordingly, it is stated that no one should experiment with galantamine on their own until we know more about whether this technique is safe.
However, when the research on drugs is completed, it seems that it will be possible for us to wander as we wish in an endless dream universe. “As I ran my hand over a brick wall… I could feel the rough texture and contours of individual bricks,” says cognitive neuroscientist Benjamin Baird of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, describing his own lucid dreaming experience with Galantamine. It’s like stepping into the holodeck where you can have all sorts of experiences.” he adds.
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