What is lucid dreaming and how can it be trained?

03 Ağu 04:19

Lucid dreaming is when you become aware that you're dreaming while you're asleep, and even manage to control parts of it. This state in the brain is often linked to the prefrontal cortex reactivating during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) phase; in other words, the "thinking" part of the dream starts working like it does when you're awake. This activation is supported by high gamma and beta waves seen on EEG, bridging conscious awareness with the dream's content. One of the basic techniques is **reality checking**. During the day, frequently asking yourself, "Am I dreaming right now?" and doing simple tests like looking at your hands or checking screen clarity trains this habit, making it easier to perform the same check within the dream. The **MILD** (Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams) method involves repeating an intention phrase like "I will realize I'm dreaming" before falling asleep, which activates this intention during REM sleep cycles. **WBTB** (Wake-Back-To-Bed) involves waking up after 4-6 hours and going back to sleep; since REM phases are more intense at this time, the chances of having a lucid dream increase. Users often report experiences like flying, stopping time, or altering the dream's scenario; some even use this state as a tool for problem-solving or generating creative ideas. Honestly, I started trying MILD a few months ago, and at first, I became lucid in my dreams a couple of times. Later, motivated by the idea of flying, I had a full lucid dream. I think continuing to practice and keeping a dream journal helps clarify progress in the process.