Exploring the neural effects of lucid dreaming workshops: An EEG and HRV pilot study

Abstract

Lucid dreaming is characterized by the awareness of being in a dream while maintaining the sleep state. Empirical analyses of dream narratives reveal that lucid dreams exhibit enhanced self-referential cognition and volitional control compared to non-lucid dreams. This report presents an exploratory encephalography (EEG) analysis of a subgroup of participants from a randomized controlled trial, which found significant reductions in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following participation in lucid dreaming workshops. Data were collected using Muse-S headbands during brief guided meditations performed before and after the workshops, measuring EEG, heart rate (PPG), blood oxygen saturation (pulse oximetry), and movement (gyroscope and accelerometer). Data from 11 participants were included in the final analysis after excluding unusable recordings. Temporal alpha asymmetry showed a significant change from pre- to post-intervention (p = 0.032), shifting from left-dominant (0.049) to right-dominant (-0.045) alpha power after the workshop—an unexpected result given the usual association of left-dominance with well-being. However, this finding is constrained by the small sample size. No significant changes were observed in other EEG or heart rate variability (HRV) metrics, but these preliminary results provide a foundation for future studies exploring the neural effects of lucid dreaming interventions.