A systematic review of new empirical data on lucid dream induction techniques

Abstract

Lucid dreams are defined as dreams in which the dreamers are aware of the fact that they are dreaming as dreams continue. It has been ~12 years since the last review of the efficiency of lucid dream induction techniques was conducted. Hence, the present study aimed to review the lucid dream induction techniques published in the past decade. The second aim was to propose a modified classification for the existing lucid dream induction techniques, including cognitive techniques, external stimulation, substance intervention, and cortical stimulation. The third aim was to assess the methodological quality of the studies included in the review. It was hypothesised that, comparing with the studies included in the last review, the studies included in the present review had better overall methodological quality. A total of 19 peer-reviewed studies were included and analysed in the present review, from which 14 lucid dream induction techniques were identified. The results indicated that the mnemonic induction of lucid dream technique was the most effective for inducing lucid dreams. Moreover, two new techniques, the senses-initiated lucid dream technique and galantamine intervention, might also be competitive candidates for lucid dream induction but further replications are needed. As hypothesised, the overall methodological quality of the studies included in the present review was higher than that of the studies included the previous review. In all, 17 studies had moderate methodological quality, whereas only three studies had poor methodological quality.

Keywords: classification; induction methods; lucid dreaming.