Frequent lucid dreaming associated with increased functional connectivity between frontopolar cortex and temporoparietal association areas
Year: 2018
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Humans typically lack awareness that they are dreaming while dreaming. However, at times a remarkable exception occurs and reflective consciousness can be regained while dreaming, referred to as lucid dreaming. While most individuals experience lucid dreams rarely there is substantial variance in lucid dream frequency. The neurobiological basis of lucid dreaming is unknown, but evidence points to involvement of anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC) and parietal cortex. This study evaluated the neuroanatomical/neurofunctional correlates of frequent lucid dreams and specifically whether functional connectivity of aPFC is associated with frequent lucid dreams. We analyzed structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging from an exceptional sample of fourteen individuals who reported ≥3 lucid dreams/week and a control group matched on age, gender and dream recall that reported ≤1 lucid dream/year. Compared to controls, the frequent lucid dream group showed significantly increased resting-state functional connectivity between left aPFC and bilateral angular gyrus, bilateral middle temporal gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus, and higher node degree and strength in left aPFC. In contrast, no significant differences in brain structure were observed. Our results suggest that frequent lucid dreaming is associated with increased functional connectivity between aPFC and temporoparietal association areas, regions normally deactivated during sleep.
Source: Scientific Reports
Institutions: University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Liège
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
Funders: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, European Commission, Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS, National Institutes of Health, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Awards: G3105035837, G334561987, Establishing a biomarker for reflective awareness in brain-injured patients, G4175096997, G434337789, G4774755101, G4937468798, Human Brain Project Specific Grant Agreement 2, G6315417688, G6607577419, Wisconsin Center for the Neuroscience and Psychophysiology of Meditation, Studying, Measuring and Altering Consciousness through information theory in the electrical brain, G7980353291, G8858395165, G9000147434
OpenAlex ID: W2905443541