TY - JOUR
T1 - The clinical neuroscience of lucid dreaming
AU - Tzioridou, Sofia
AU - Campillo-Ferrer, Teresa
AU - Cañas-Martín, Jorge
AU - Schlüter, Linda
AU - Torres-Platas, Susana G.
AU - Gott, Jarrod A.
AU - Soffer-Dudek, Nirit
AU - Stumbrys, Tadas
AU - Dresler, Martin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors
PY - 2025/2/1
Y1 - 2025/2/1
N2 - During most dreams, the dreamer does not realize that they are in a dream. In contrast, lucid dreaming allows to become aware of the current state of mind, often accompanied by considerable control over the ongoing dream episode. Lucid dreams can happen spontaneously or be induced through diverse behavioural, cognitive or technological strategies. Such induction techniques have spurred research into the potential therapeutic aspects of lucid dreams. In this review, we gather evidence on the link between lucid dreams and conditions like nightmare disorder, depression, anxiety, psychosis, and dissociative states, and highlight the possible neurobiological basis of these associations. Furthermore, we explore contemplative sleep practices that train lucid states during sleep, such as Dream/Sleep Yoga and Yoga Nidrâ. The potential drawbacks of lucid dreaming interventions are outlined, accompanied by an examination of the impacts of lucid dreams on individuals without clinical conditions. By shedding light on these intricate relationships, the review contributes to a deeper understanding of the therapeutic possibilities and implications of lucid dreaming.
AB - During most dreams, the dreamer does not realize that they are in a dream. In contrast, lucid dreaming allows to become aware of the current state of mind, often accompanied by considerable control over the ongoing dream episode. Lucid dreams can happen spontaneously or be induced through diverse behavioural, cognitive or technological strategies. Such induction techniques have spurred research into the potential therapeutic aspects of lucid dreams. In this review, we gather evidence on the link between lucid dreams and conditions like nightmare disorder, depression, anxiety, psychosis, and dissociative states, and highlight the possible neurobiological basis of these associations. Furthermore, we explore contemplative sleep practices that train lucid states during sleep, such as Dream/Sleep Yoga and Yoga Nidrâ. The potential drawbacks of lucid dreaming interventions are outlined, accompanied by an examination of the impacts of lucid dreams on individuals without clinical conditions. By shedding light on these intricate relationships, the review contributes to a deeper understanding of the therapeutic possibilities and implications of lucid dreaming.
KW - Anxiety
KW - Clinical neuroscience
KW - Depression
KW - Dissociation
KW - Lucid dreaming
KW - Narcolepsy
KW - Nightmares
KW - Out-of-body experience
KW - Psychosis
KW - Sleep
KW - Sleep paralysis
KW - Yoga nidrâ
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85215599340&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106011
DO - 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106011
M3 - Review article
C2 - 39818345
AN - SCOPUS:85215599340
SN - 0149-7634
VL - 169
JO - Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
JF - Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
M1 - 106011
ER -