Scientists Induce Lucid Dreaming With Electrical Stimulation (Study)

Scientists Induce Lucid Dreaming With Electrical Stimulation (Study) | Third Monk image 2

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The ability to become lucid during a dream and gain control of the dream itself has been coveted, examined and practiced for centuries; resulting in many methods and exercises that cultivate lucid dreams. The opportunity to consciously explore the dream-space can provide insights into the mysteries of the unconscious mind; lucid dreaming can also be used therapeutically to address traumatic memories or chronic nightmares.

Recently a team of scientists led by psychologist Ursula Voss of the Goethe University in Frankfort, Germany successfully induced lucid dreams in test subjects by stimulating specific brain regions with an electrical current. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience in May, provides some of the first data necessary to understand the biology of lucid dreaming.

Voss’ early studies found that participants’ reports of lucid dreams tended to occur during REM sleep. At the beginning of a sleep cycle, the brain slows from high frequency gamma and beta waves associated with waking, processing and alertness. The patterns of brain activity progress through slowing alpha waves to deep sleep’s delta and theta frequencies.

Paradoxically, the sleep cycle apexes in REM, and the brainwaves speed up. Dreams normally occur during REM sleep, when many regions of the brain appear to be functioning as if it were awake. When subjects reported a lucid dream, there was distinct gamma activity, the highest frequency range of brainwave, in the frontotemporal region.

lucid-dreaming

The frontotemporal region is associated with executive functioning, decision making, processing complex stimuli, and self-awareness. Voss and her team theorized that lucid dreams occur when the frontotemporal region of the brain is active at a gamma level during REM sleep. To test this theory, they used a non-invasive method called Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation. TACS uses electrodes placed on the scalp to stimulate the surface of the brain. When they sent an electrical current in the Gamma frequency into the frontotemporal region of the scalp, the participants overwhelmingly reported a self-aware dream upon waking.

The ability of physicians to induce lucid dreams could provide new treatment models for sleep disorders, post-traumatic stress, and even anxiety and depression. Sleep, especially REM, is vital to the formation of memories, the consolidation of stimuli into larger concepts, and the regeneration of the brain. If Voss’ research provides a consistent method of psychic exploration, scientists and psychonauts will be able to further understand the mysteries, mechanisms and potential self-discoveries of dreams.

Lucid Dreaming with Electrical Stimulation

Elliot Hill seems to miss the point in the video above, but I’ve left it in since some people would rather see a video about the study rather than read about it.

Elliot glosses over the multitude of benefits lucid dreaming offers and instead says he doesn’t want to be alertly conscious all of the time, claiming dreams are his last bastion of unconscious musings. It is laughable that Elliot believes he is fully conscious and aware throughout his entire waking life, a feat that many of us struggle with hourly!

Much like psychedelics, lucid dreaming can be a tool to help further your understanding of yourself and the universe, and honestly, what is more important than that?

For those uncertain of taking the mental plunge into lucid dreaming or psychedelics or with experience on the subject sound off below with your thoughts.

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> Induce Lucid Dreams With Electrical Stimulation | Ultra Culture

Dream Analysis: Common Dream Symbols and Their Meanings

Dream Analysis: Common Dream Symbols and Their Meanings | Third Monk image 8

Dreams are best interpreted by you and in the context of your particular dream.

Your recent mood and waking life experience can also play a part in your analysis.

Common Dream Symbols

BirdDreamSymbolism

Animals

often represent the part of your psyche that feels connected to nature and survival. Being chased by a predator suggests you’re holding back repressed emotions like fear or aggression.

Babies

can symbolize a literal desire to produce offspring, or your own vulnerability or need to feel loved. They can also signify a new start.

Being chased

is one of the most common dream symbols in all cultures. It means you are feeling threatened, so reflect on who is chasing you (they may also be symbolic) and why they are a possible threat in real life.

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Clothes

make a statement about how we want other people to perceive us. If you dream symbol is shabby clothing, you may feel unattractive or worn out. Changing what you wear may reflect a lifestyle change.

Exams

can signify self-evaluation, with the content of the exam reflecting the part of your personality or life under inspection.

Death

of a friend or loved one represents change (endings and new beginnings) and is not a paranormal prediction of any kind. If you are recently bereaved, it may be an attempt to come to terms with the event.

Falling

is a common dream symbol that relates to our anxieties about letting go, losing control, or somehow failing after a success.

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Faulty Machinery

in dreams is often caused by your language centers being shut down while asleep, making it difficult to dial a phone, read the time, or search the internet. It can also represent performance anxiety in life.

Food

is said to symbolize knowledge, because it nourishes the body just as information nourishes the brain. Food for thought?

Demons

are sneaky evil entities which signify repressed emotions. You may secretly feel the need to change your own behaviors for the better.

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Hair

has significant ties with sexuality, according to Freud. Abundant hair may symbolize virility, while cutting hair off in a dream shows a loss of libido. Hair loss may also express a literal fear of going bald or becoming unattractive.

Hands

are always present in dreams but when they are tied up it may represent feelings of futility. Washing your hands may express guilt. Looking closely at your hands in a dream is a good way to become lucid.

Houses

can host many common dream symbols, but the building as a whole represents your inner psyche. Each room or floor can symbolize different emotions, memories and interpretations of meaningful events.

Killing

in your dreams does not make you a closet murderer; it represents your desire to “kill” part of your own personality. It can also symbolize hostility towards a particular person and the desire to see them suffer.

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Marriage

may be a literal desire to wed or a merging of the feminine and masculine parts of your psyche.

Missing a flight

or any other kind of transport is another popular dream, showing your frustration over possibly missing out on important opportunities in life. It’s most common when you’re struggling to make a big decision.

Money

can symbolize self worth. If you dream of exchanging money, it may show that you’re anticipating some changes in your life.

Mountains

are obstacles, so to dream of successfully climbing a mountain can reveal a true feeling of achievement. Viewing a landscape from atop a mountain can symbolize a life under review without conscious prejudice.

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Nudity

is one of the most common dream symbols, revealing your true self to others. You may feel vulnerable and exposed to others. Showing off your nudity may suggest sexual urges or a desire for recognition.

People

(other dream characters) are reflections of your own psyche, and may demonstrate specific aspects of your own personality.

Radios and TVs

can symbolize communication channels between the conscious and subconscious minds. When lucid, ask them a question…

Roads

aside from being literal manifestations, convey your direction in life. This may be time to question your current “life path”.

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Schools

are common dream symbols in children and teenagers but what about dreaming of school in adulthood? It may display a need to know and understand yourself, fueled by life’s own lessons.

Sex

dreams can symbolize intimacy and a literal desire for sex. Or they may demonstrate the unification of unconscious emotions with conscious recognition, showing a new awareness and personal growth.

Teachers

aside from being literal manifestations of people, can represent authority figures with the power to enlighten you.

Teeth

are common dream symbols. Dreaming of losing your teeth may show a hidden fear of getting old and being unattractive to the opposite sex.

Being trapped

(physically) is a common nightmare theme, reflecting your real life inability to escape or make the right choice.

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Vehicles

may reflect how much control you feel you have over your life – for instance is the car out of control, or is someone else driving you?

Water

comes in many forms and can symbolize the subconscious mind. Calm pools of water reflect inner peace while a choppy ocean can suggest unease.

water

> Common Dream Interpretations | World of Lucid Dreaming

Binaural Beats: A Digital Auditory Drug for Mind Enhancement & Optimization (Video)

Binaural Beats: A Digital Auditory Drug for Mind Enhancement & Optimization (Video) | Third Monk image 2

binaural-beats

Binaural beats were originally discovered in 1839 by physicist Heinrich Wilhelm Dove. He discovered when signals of two different frequencies are presented separately, one to each ear, your brain detects the phase variation between the frequencies and tries to reconcile that difference.

In doing so, as the two frequencies mesh in and out of phase, your brain creates its own third signal — called a binaural beat — which is equal to the difference between those two frequencies.

binaural-beats

Research has shown that introducing a binaural beat will cause the brain to begin resonating in tune with that beat. This technique can be used to quickly and easily guide your mind into a desired state.

The concept that music can change your mood is, of course, nothing new. I am unsure if binaural beats offer an improvement over typical music, placebo or otherwise. More conclusive studies are required, but if you do find you enjoy the beats, there are many free options available so you won’t have to pay for the service.

And if you find you want to make your own binaural beats, check out:
Open Source Binaural Beat Generator.

 Binaural Beats: A Digital Auditory Drug for Mind Enhancement & Optimization

528 Hz Schumann – Chakra Balance (Meditation Enhancement)

528 Hz love frequency based meditation; with a Schumann resonance, binaural entrainment vibration rate of 7.8 Hz.

Retain Information During Studying (Study Tool)

(*Headphones required*)
This binaural study aid features many different frequencies between 4 & 14 Hz. It begins at 4Hz and rises slowly, ending with a 14hz Alpha tone at around the 50 min mark. The pitch remains constant throughout. Adjust the volume accordingly and feel free to mix with music, though it is advised to spend some time adjusting to the tone by itself first.

Extremely Powerful Multidimensional Self Connection

Close your eyes.
Listen with headphones.
Early morning time is best. 🙂

This Binaural is very powerful. If you have never used them before, start on some lower effect and build up.

Lucid Dream Induction | ‘Matrices’ | A Movie in Your Mind

***PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION*** / HEADPHONES REQUIRED FOR BINAURAL BEATS

The 6-minute hypnosis at the start (STAGE #1) is there to help you fall asleep within the first 10-minutes of the lucid dream inducement (STAGE #2). It’s therefore recommended that you listen to STAGE #1 before every session until you’re confident that you can fall asleep without it, in which case just click on the annotation at the start to skip straight to the induction. The reason you have to sleep within 10 mins of STAGE #2 is so that the peak of your REM sleep/dream activity syncronizes with the triggers/affirmations at 1:11:28 secs.

STAGE #1 has the added benefit of providing several affirmations to prepare your mind for lucidity; “Tonight I will lucid dream”, “I am the master of my dreams” etc. (see below)

The first 65 minutes of STAGE #2 will guide your brainwaves into a deep Delta sleep, while the remainder will transition your mind into Theta, the state in which REM sleep and dreams (at their peak intensity) occur. From 65 mins of Stage #2 onwards, there will be a number of affirmations designed to trigger lucidity. You are advised to skip to these now so that you can adjust volume levels accordingly. (1:11:28 secs )

It is important to develop the habit of performing ‘reality checks’ throughout the day as the affirmations will prompt you to perform these in your dream. Of course you may even trigger lucidity without this audio – but this is just a tool to help you speed up the process. The key to getting results is persistence.

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STAGE #1 AFFIRMATIONS (before and after the relaxation hypnosis)
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“The next time I am dreaming, I will know that I am dreaming
“I am the master of my dreams”
“Tonight I will have a lucid dream”
“When dreaming, I recognize that I am dreaming”
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STAGE #2 AFFIRMATIONS (From 1Hr 11 Mins 28 secs onwards)
————————————
“You are dreaming”
“Do a reality check”
“This is a dream”
“You are taking control of your dream”
“You are now dreaming”
“Is this a dream?”
“Perform a reality check”
“I am awakening within my dream”
“I am becoming consciously aware”

Deep Delta Sleep Meditation

Deep delta brainwave audio for meditation, relaxation and sleep.

Headphones are not needed as this uses Sonic Harmonics audio technology.

Binaural Beats for High Mental Activity | Gamma Waves

High gamma binaural beats are associated with high mental activity. Ideally when we are actively and deeply focused on task or during meditation, our brain generates frequency higher than normal (between 25-100 Hz).

Share your experiences with Binaural Beats below, we’d love to hear them.

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> How They Affect Your Brain | Immrama Institute

The Science of Lucid Dreaming Methods Used by Richard Feynman (Video)

The Science of Lucid Dreaming Methods Used by Richard Feynman (Video) | Third Monk

Here are the video’s lucid dreaming pointers in list form:

  • -Maintain a dream journal: this improves recall and lucidity.
  • -Reality checks: Remember to check the time often, even when you think you’re awake.
  • -MILD: Put that dream journal to use! Think of a recent dream as you fall asleep, while focusing on having a lucid dream. Try waking in the middle of the night for half an hour and then heading back to sleep.
  • -WILD: Keep your mind awake as your body slips into sleep.

Richard Feynman on the Fear of Sleep Paralysis

During the time of making observation in my dreams, the process of waking up was a rather fearful one. As you’re beginning to wake up there’s a moment when you feel rigid and tied down, or underneath many layers of cotton batting. It’s hard to explain, but there’s a moment when you get the feeling you can’t get out; you’re not sure you can wake up.

So I would have to tell myself — after I was awake — that that’s ridiculous. There’s no disease I know of where a person falls asleep naturally and can’t wake up. You can always wake up. And after talking to myself many times like that, I became less and less afraid, and in fact I found the process of waking up rather thrilling — something like a roller coaster. After a while you’re not so scared, and you begging to enjoy it a little bit. – Richard Feynman, Theoretical Physicist

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A handy guide to lucid dreaming, with additional tips from Richard Feynman | io9

Shortcut to Astral Projection With a Candle (Video)

Shortcut to Astral Projection With a Candle (Video) | Third Monk

Astral projection is an out-of-body experience where your consciousness travels to another dimension. A spiritual stoner with “I Got 5 on It” playing in the background breaks it down in a way that anyone can understand.

The shortcut method involves focusing on the outer glow around the flame of a candle. His description of the astral projection experience is highly detailed and will be of interest to people who are into lucid dreaming and psychedelics.

Shortcut to Astral Projection With a Candle – Part 1

Shortcut to Astral Projection With a Candle – Part 2

Shortcut to Astral Projection With a Candle – Part 3

Lucid Dreaming Quick Cheat Sheet (Guide)

Lucid Dreaming Quick Cheat Sheet (Guide) | Third Monk

By lucid dreaming you can open your experience up to infinity. Life doesn’t stop when your eyes close.

First – Make an effort to remember your dreams

Tell yourself before you go to sleep that you WILL remember your dreams.

Start a journal, blog, or podcast, record the entirety of your dream in some concrete way.

Second – Reality Check

Reality checking is making a habit of checking whether or not you’re dreaming, while you’re awake. This habit will carry over into you’re dreaming.

Look over the dreams you have recorded and note patterns. These patterns will help you identify when you are dreaming.

Looking at digital clocks, into mirrors and flipping light switches are all great ways to check on reality.

Third- Now You’re Lucid Dreaming

Explore your imagination. Fly, breathe underwater, space travel, time travel get crazy with it and enjoy.

When dreaming rub your hands together and spin to prolong a lucid dream state.

Instead of thinking about what you want to do when you become lucid, think about it while you’re awake.

Fourth – Lucid Dreaming Supplements

Practice meditation. You get used to being in an altered state of mind and become more comfortable with lucid dreaming.

5-HTP is a natural dietary supplement that aids in serotonin production. 5-HTP has been proven to make lucid dreams more common and more vivid.

> Lucid Dreaming | High Existence

Polyphasic Sleep Cycles Increase Waking Hours

Polyphasic Sleep Cycles Increase Waking Hours | Third Monk image 3

Most people only think that there is one way to sleep: Go to sleep at night for 6-8 hours, wake up in the morning, stay awake for 16-18 hours and then repeat. This common routine is called the monophasic sleep cycle, which is only 1 of 5 major sleep cycles. The other 4 are considered polyphasic sleep cycles due to the multiple number of naps they require each day.

How is this possible? How is this healthy? Well, the most important stage of every sleep cycle is the Stage 4 REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which has been shown to provide the benefits of sleep to the brain above all other stages of sleep. When changing over to a polyphasic cycle, the lack of sleep tricks the body into entering REM sleep immediately instead of 45 to 75 minutes into sleep like in the monophasic cycle. This way, you still get the benefits of 8 hours of sleep without wasting all of the time it takes to get to REM cycles, resulting in a much more efficient sleep cycle.

 

Polyphasic Cycles

Uberman Cycle:

20 to 30 minute naps every 4 hours, resulting in 6 naps each day. The uberman cycle is highly efficient, and usually results in feeling healthy,  feeling refreshed upon waking and extremely vivid dreams. Many uberman-users report increased ability to lucid dream as well. However, the rigid schedule makes it near impossible to miss naps without feeling horribly tired. Blogger Steve Pavlina tried the cycle for 5.5 months and had amazingly positive results. Read his articles and updates on the cycle here.

 

 

 

Everyman Cycle:

One longer “core” nap that is supplemented with several 20-30 minute naps. The most successful variations are either one 3 hour nap and three 20-minute naps or one 1.5 hour nap with 4-5 20 minute naps, all of which have equal amounts of time in between each nap. This cycle is much easier to adjust to than the Uberman and allows for more flexibility in nap times and in skipping naps when necessary. It is also still extremely efficient compared to monophasic with only 3-4 hours of sleep per day.

 

 

 

Dymaxion Cycle:

Bucky Fuller invented the cycle based on his belief that we have two energy tanks, the first is easy to replenish but the second tank (second wind) is much harder. So Bucky began sleeping for 30 minutes every 6 hours. That’s 2 hours a day of sleep! He reported feeling, “the most vigorous and alert condition I have ever enjoyed.” Doctors examined him after several years of using the cycle and pronounced him perfectly healthy. The most extreme of the 4 alternate cycles, but also the most efficient.

 

 

 

Biphasic “Siesta” Cycle:

The biphasic cycle is basically that of every college student in America. The biphasic cycle consists of sleeping for 4-4.5 hours at night, and then taking a 90 minute nap around noon. So not all that different, still more efficient than monophasic, but not by much.

 

 

 

 

Choosing a Polyphasic Sleep Cycle

The cycle that can work for you completely depends on your lifestyle. If you decide to switch to either the Dymaxion or Uberman cycles, note that you will be a zombie from day 3 to around day 10 until your body fully adjusts to the cycle. Here are some tips gathered from reading other people’s progress

Eat healthy, avoid fatty foods and the adjustment will be much easier

-Make sure you have a project to work on during all of your new awake hours as it makes the time go by faster

– Also make sure you have two or three weeks of freedom to adjust to the cycle so that you don’t go to work or school completely dead from sleep deprivation

– Hang in there. Each of the cycles will get exponentially easier all of the sudden after the first 2 weeks or so. Just be patient and diligent! Don’t skip naps or change your nap times around or you will basically have to start your adjustment period over.

– Use natural cues for being waking up from naps like sunlight and loud music, while using darkness and silence for sleep (obviously)

If you are seriously considering making the switch over the a polyphasic sleep cycle, a really enjoyable and informative read is Steve Pavlina’s extremely in-depth report of his experience with the Uberman cycle, available here.