People who regularly have lucid dreams may have a unique brain structure. This conclusion was reached by researchers who found that the tendency to be lucid during dreams is associated with integrated neural networks responsible for self-awareness, imagination and cognitive control. The study was published in the Journal of Sleep Research (JSR).
Lucid dreams occur when a person is aware that they are dreaming and dreaming, and sometimes can even control the events that occur during the dream. Although scientists have previously studied brain activity during such states, the anatomical features that may be associated with the ability to lucid dream remain poorly understood.
Thirty healthy adult volunteers, 15 men and 15 women, with an average age of approximately 26 years, participated in the study. The participants first filled out detailed questionnaires about their sleep habits, which showed how often they remembered normal dreams and how often they had lucid dreams.
The scientists then performed high-precision brain scans using structural magnetic resonance imaging. They analyzed two types of brain tissue: gray matter, where information processing takes place, and white matter, which is responsible for transmitting signals between different parts of the brain.
Machine learning techniques were used to analyze the data. The algorithm identified networks of brain regions whose structure changes consistently among individuals.
As a result, scientists have discovered a network that includes both gray and white matter that is associated with the frequency of lucid dreaming. It connects areas of the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, as well as the cerebellum. These structures are involved in self-reflection, mental imagery, and attentional control.
According to the researchers, a region of the brain called the prefrontal cortex plays a particularly important role. It is located at the back of the brain and is associated with internal thought processes and visual imagery.
Furthermore, scientists have discovered another network associated with lucid dreaming that involves only gray matter. It is located in visual and attentional regions of the brain, such as the cuneate gyrus. This system is believed to help create vivid visual scenes during dreams without the presence of real light.
According to the researchers, these results indicate that the ability to lucid dream may be related to a certain neuroanatomical organization of the brain.
In the future, scientists plan to test whether lucid dreaming training can change brain structure over time. Understanding the mechanisms of this condition may help develop new treatments for sleep disorders such as chronic nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Translation by Euromedia24.com
