Lucid Dreaming Research Paper Outline
Lucid Dreaming
Psychology 1010
Outline
1. Thesis/introduction
2. Evidence/experiments
3. Cognitive theory/awareness
4. Developing capacity
5. Dreams interpretation of physics
6. Brains influence on dreaming
7. Lucid dreaming statistics
Lucid dreaming, in simple terms, is the ability to become aware that you are dreaming. Lucid dreaming in the past has been seen as a mysterious talent. However, experiments have shown that is actually a learnable skill and that it can be enhanced and trained. (LaBerge: Lucid dreaming as a learnable skill: Perceptual and Motor Skills, 51, 1039-1042.) You can increase your capacity for lucid dreaming and cause yourself to experience it more often. Studies have also shown that you can gain control of your dreams and even influence the outcome. …show more content…
The problem is that scientifically this idea is particularity hard to prove. No psychologist, machine, or doctor can see inside another person’s dreams. However, an experiment was done where subjects were instructed to signal the start of a lucid dream by certain dream actions that could be recorded on a polygraph. These actions were compared side by side to the recording of their sleep stages. Signals were shown on the polygraph mostly during REM sleep. (LaBerge, S., Nagel, L., Dement, W. C., & Zarcone, V., Jr. (1981). Lucid dreaming verified by volitional communication during REM sleep. Perceptual and Motor Skills) This data proves that the subjects were able to control their dream actions while
Psychology 1010
Outline
1. Thesis/introduction
2. Evidence/experiments
3. Cognitive theory/awareness
4. Developing capacity
5. Dreams interpretation of physics
6. Brains influence on dreaming
7. Lucid dreaming statistics
Lucid dreaming, in simple terms, is the ability to become aware that you are dreaming. Lucid dreaming in the past has been seen as a mysterious talent. However, experiments have shown that is actually a learnable skill and that it can be enhanced and trained. (LaBerge: Lucid dreaming as a learnable skill: Perceptual and Motor Skills, 51, 1039-1042.) You can increase your capacity for lucid dreaming and cause yourself to experience it more often. Studies have also shown that you can gain control of your dreams and even influence the outcome. …show more content…
The problem is that scientifically this idea is particularity hard to prove. No psychologist, machine, or doctor can see inside another person’s dreams. However, an experiment was done where subjects were instructed to signal the start of a lucid dream by certain dream actions that could be recorded on a polygraph. These actions were compared side by side to the recording of their sleep stages. Signals were shown on the polygraph mostly during REM sleep. (LaBerge, S., Nagel, L., Dement, W. C., & Zarcone, V., Jr. (1981). Lucid dreaming verified by volitional communication during REM sleep. Perceptual and Motor Skills) This data proves that the subjects were able to control their dream actions while