Lucid Dreaming Effects

Lucid dreaming is known to activate the prefrontal cortex during REM sleep, which causes an individual to become aware and control their dream. However, in nonlucid dreaming there is a deactivation in the lateral frontal areas causing an individual to have no self-awareness during REM sleep. Possible influences include a child's personality, emotion, and perspective of the world. Studies indicated that the prefrontal cortex, parietal lobe, and the ventromedial part of the brain help lucid dreamers to recall and recognize they are dreaming using specific eye movements as signals. Questionnaires in multiple studies were used to track lucid and recall dreaming in children. Positive effects of lucid dreaming includes motor learning and therapy,

A lucid dreamer is one of the few that gets to taste freedom through impossible actions and vivid perceptions in their dreams. Through meta-awareness and self-consciousness, one can tap into their mental state and recall that they are dreaming because of a bizarre object or action that helped them become aware. Likewise, Lucid dreaming differs from regular dreams, in which both lucid and nonlucid dreams occur during REM sleep, however, lucid dreams also activate the prefrontal cortex and forebrain sections, which trigger self-awareness and memory (Neider et al., 2011). Moreover, the possible influences that are associated with lucid dreaming include emotions, perception of the world, imagination, and their openness to experience (Schredl & Erlacher, 2004 & Gackenbach, 2006). Researchers found that children tend to lucid dream more often than adults through tests conducted using expressive arts (Armstrong-Hickey, 1988). An alternative study conducted suggested the connection between lucid dreaming and ventromedial prefrontal function caused an increased performance based on the working memory (Neider et al., 2011). Although lucid dreaming can be influenced based on emotions and perceptions, psychological studies indicate that the prefrontal cortex, parietal lobe, and the ventromedial part of the brain are major parts for recalling and recognizing dreams. Therefore, possible effects of lucid dreaming include motor learning and therapy