Two-way communication in lucid dreaming using Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS)

Abstract

Dream reports are usually recorded upon waking, and their reliability is influenced by memory processing during sleep, often leading to partial or selective recollections. Recently, there has been increasing interest in exploring the possibility of direct communication from within a dream. This study explores the feasibility of bidirectional communication during lucid dream-ing, using a counting task facilitated by electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). Four participants with varying levels of lucid dreaming experience engaged in overnight recordings, monitored by polysomnography to ensure the presence of lucid dreams. Over four nights, two participants successfully perceived, counted and communicated the number of stimuli during lucid dreams in real-time. Out of eleven trials, five (45.5%) successfully elicited a response, while six (54.5%) did not. These findings highlight the potential of EMS as a reliable method for bidirectional communication in lucid dreaming, reinforcing previous research and offering valuable insights for future studies. Furthermore, this study advances the field of dream engi-neering and sheds light on the relationship between the physical and dreamed body. Dream communication and engineering will advance by experimenting with creative methods and ideas, leading to more detailed, nuanced, and reliable dream data.