Lucid Dreaming

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10 percent) are the result of returning to REM sleep directly from an
awakening with unbroken reflective consciousness (LaBerge, 1985). These types of
lucid dreams occur most often during daytime napping. If the napper has been REM
deprived from a previous night of little sleep their chances of having a REM
period at sleep onset are increased. If the napper is able to continue his or
her train of thought up to the point of sleep, a lucid dream may develop due to
an immediate REM period.
The basic definition of lucid dreaming requires nothing more than the
dreamer becoming aware that they are dreaming. However, the quality of lucidity
varies greatly. When lucidity is at a high level, the dreamer is aware that
everything experienced in the dream is occurring in their mind, that there is no
real danger, and that they are asleep in bed and will awaken eventually. With
low-level lucidity they may be aware to a certain extent that they are dreaming,
perhaps enough to fly, ...

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method,
demonstrating interesting connections between dreamed actions and physiological
responses.
It has been debated if lucid dreaming interferes with the function of Ò
normalÓ dreaming. According to one way of thinking, lucid dreaming is normal
dreaming. The brain and body are in the same physiological state of REM sleep
during lucid dreaming as they are during most ordinary non-lucid dreaming. In
dreams the mind creates experiences out of currently active thoughts, concerns,
memories and fantasies. Knowledge that a person is dreaming simply allows them
to direct their dream along constructive or positive lines, much like they
direct their thoughts when awake. Furthermore, ...

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