The influence of lucid dreaming on mental performance [Lucid Dreaming Series (4/6)]

In the previous article of the "Lucid Dreaming Series" ( https://www.patreon.com/BinauralNutrition?filters[tag]=lucid%20dreaming%20series ) I discussed the influence of lucid dreaming on physical performance and provided scientific evidence for how effectively the ability to lucid dream can be used to improve overall physical performance. Well, today's topic is being studied even more closely.

Sigmund Freud (Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis) hypothesized in 1913 that the most common application of lucid dreams is to fulfill the deepest personal desires and wishes. The research published in 2016 has led to this exact conclusion [1]. It was also revealed that the widespread use of lucid dreams is to solve waking problems, overcome nightmares/fears, and, for mental healing and spiritual purposes, or improve motor skills. Of course, lucid dreams can be, with huge success, used for all of these purposes. I'm willing to bet that the respondents in the aforementioned survey didn't even know that lucid dreaming was one of the best ways to achieve their goals. They just chose their answers based on their own experiences and feelings.

Putting aside the fact that lucid dreaming may be used to fulfill all your deepest desires (e.g., flying and having sex with your idol, which are the two most common choices in LD [2]), which is very easy to perform while dreaming lucidly. Once you have fulfilled your intristic, dopamine-driven goals, move on to the essence.

It has been proven that lucid dreaming can be used with high success rates as a problem-solving method [3], as well as an effective way to overcome nightmares and fears [4] [5]. Also, lucid dreaming can be used for broadly understood self-healing purposes [6]. It is also important to mention that waking up after a lucid dream is much more pleasant than waking up after a regular dream. You may also feel much more rejuvenated than usual throughout the morning and stay in a great mood for the rest of the day.

All studies show that the practice of lucid dreaming can be used with great success to improve overall mental performance. The list of benefits may be much longer. The influence of lucid dreaming on the human brain needs to be studied further. This is why I always encourage you to actively experiment. Everyone's mind holds many secrets that may only be revealed in a deep meditative state, under the influence of psychedelics, or while exploring your own mind in the state of lucid dreaming.

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1. Stumbrys T., Erlachter D. (2016); Applications of lucid dreams and their effects on the mood upon awakening; International Journal of Dream Research 9(2):146-150;

2. Gholipour B. (2014); What Poeple Choose to Dream About: Sex and Flying; Livescience.com;

3. Stumbrys T.; Daniels M. (2010); An exploratory study of creative problem solving in lucid dreams: Preliminary findings and methodological considerations; International Jounral of Dream Research Psychological Aspects of Sleep and Dreaming;

4. Zadra A. L., Pihl R. O. (1997); Lucid dreaming as a treatment for recurrent nightmares. Psychother, Psychosom. 66, 50–55;

5. Freitas de Macêdo T., Glescikelly Herminia Ferreira, Moraes de Almondes K., Roumen K., Mota-Rolim S. (2019); My Dream, My Rules: Can Lucid Dreaming Treat Nightmares?; Frontiers in Psychology (10) 2618;

6. Tholey P. (1988); A Model for Lucidity Training as a Means of Self-Healing and Psychological Growth; Conscious Mind, Sleeping Brain; Plenum Press: 263-287;