Some scientists seem to assume that lucid dreams are "too different" from non-lucid dreams to use lucid dreamers to study, for example, mind-body relationships during REM sleep. So in spite of proof that lucid dreams occur during unambiguous deep (REM) sleep, rather than a supposed mixture of light sleep and wakefulness, some diehard skeptics claim that 'this sleep isn't sleep' and 'these dreams aren't dreams'.
We believe, on the contrary, that lucid dreams show just how paradoxical REM sleep can be. But clearly more research is needed. In order to further our understanding of the extent to which lucid dreams differ from non-lucid dreams in other ways than (obviously) whether or not the dreamer knows it is a dream at the time, we have designed a new questionnaire study, a revision of an earlier pilot study. In short, we are asking you to fill out a web questionnaire and report form four times; Two of these reports should be lucid dreams, and two should be non-lucid dreams.
First, we would like you to report on your most recent lucid and non-lucid dreams. They might be from this morning, a week ago, or a month ago. Include the date and approximate time (estimated, if necessary) of the dream. These two dream reports must be done today.
Fill out your most recent non-lucid dream report in a text editor or email editor, then paste into the appropriate field on the dream content report form.
[Click here for the DREAM CONTENT FORM.]
Repeat the same procedure with your most recent lucid dream.Secondly, please record your very next lucid and non-lucid dreams. Record these two dreams as soon after awakening from them as possible.
IN SUMMARY, THE FOUR DREAMS REPORTED:
1. MOST RECENT NON-LUCID DREAM
2. MOST RECENT LUCID DREAM
3. NEXT NON-LUCID DREAM
4. NEXT LUCID DREAM
FOR ALL FOUR DREAMS: Please describe the dream exactly and as fully as you can remember it. Your report should contain, whenever possible, a description of the setting of the dream, whether it was familiar to you or not; a description of the people, their gender, age and relationship to you; and a description of any animals that appeared in the dream. If possible, describe your feelings during the dream and whether it was pleasant or unpleasant. Be sure to tell exactly what happened during the dream to you and the other characters. If the dream was lucid be sure to indicate when you became lucid, and if possible how you knew you were dreaming. Reports should be between 50-500 words each.We understand that details may be scant from "most recent" dreams if they weren't too recent, but we are adhering to this method for comparison purposes with other studies. Please resist the tendency to select a more interesting example than your most recent or next lucid or non-lucid dream. In another later phase of the study, we will ask for several other types of sample of lucid and non-lucid dreams, for example, "most interesting" or "meaningful", but in this study, we are attempting to obtain a random, unselected sample of dreams.
Participants will receive a link allowing you to download a free copy of A TRANCE INDUCTION OF LUCID DREAMING in mp3 format, so make sure you give a valid email address on the questionnaire. Please fill out questionnaires and reports for each of the four dreams as soon as possible, but no later than by June 15, 2010.
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