Lucid dreamers ''offer insight into consciousness''
28/10/2011
Those lucky enough to enjoy lucid dreams when they sleep in their beds at night could offer researchers unique insight into the mysteries of consciousness.
Lucid dreamers are distinguished by being aware that they are having a dream, and also being able to control their actions.
Based on a recent study of lucid dreamers, scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry believe it may be possible to predict the outcome of dreams by analysing the patterns of brain activity.
Co-author of the study, which appears in the journal Current Biology, Michael Czisch explained: "The lucid dreamer gains insight into a very complex state: sleeping, dreaming, but being consciously aware of the dream state.
"This may inform us about concepts of consciousness."
In September, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley used brain imaging to successfully decode and reconstruct images from Hollywood movie trailers they had been watching, which could be used in the future to decode dreams and the thoughts of coma patients.
Posted by Elizabeth Mewes
