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Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003100140001-2 251 [121] COGNITION AND DREAM RESEARCH Edited by Robert E. Haskell, Ph.D. The Journal of | Mind and Behavior SPECIAL ISSUE Volume 7, Numbers 2 and 3 Journal ft Spring and Summer 14986, Volume 7, Numbers 2 and 3 Pages 25E EL2E] 258 [E28] ISSN O27) OUI7 ISBN 0.930195 02 7 Lucid Dreaming: Physiological Correlates of Consciousness during REM Sleep Stephen LaBerge Stanford University and The Saybrook Institute Lynne Levitan and William C. Dement Stanford University Reports of lucid dreaming (dreaming while being conscious that one is dreaming) were verified for 13 selected subjects who signaled by means of voluntary eye-movements that they knew they were dreaming while continuing to dream during unequivocal REM sleep. Physiological analysis of the resulting 76 signal-verified lucid dreams (SVLDs) revealed that elevated levels of automatic nervous system activity reliably occured both during and 30 seconds preceding the onset of SVLDs, implicating physiological activation as a necessary condition for reflective consciousness during REM dreaming. The ability of proficient lucid dreamers to deliberately perform dream actions in accordance with pre- sleep agreement makes possible the methodical and precise determination of psycho- physiological correspondence during REM dreaming. It is not the usual case for dreamers to know that they are dreaming while they are dreaming. Nevertheless, significant exceptions sometimes occur when dreamers realize while dreaming that they are dreaming. Although lucid dreaming, as this phenomenon is called, has been known since the time of Aristotle, it has only recently become the subject of scientific inquiry (LaBerge, 1985a). Studies in our laboratory and elsewhere have demonstrated that lucid dreams occur almost exclusively during REM sleep (Dane, 1983; Fenwick, Schatzman, Worsley, Adams, Stone, and Baker, 1984; Hearne, 1978; LaBerge, Nagel, Dement, and Zarcone, 1981; Tyson, Ogilvie, and Hunt, 1984). However, until now little light has been shed on the detailed physiology of dream lucidity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate physiological correlates of REM lucid dreams. The volunteer subjects were seven males and six females (age ranging from The authors would like to chank the Institute of Human Development for financial support. Requests for reprints should be sent to Stephen LaBerge, Ph.D., Sleep Research Center,’Stan- ford University, Stanford, California 94305. Approved ot Rélsasé S000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003100140001-2