TIME FOR A NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE

A DREAM ODYSSEY

NORMALLY when we dream, we are not aware we are dreaming. So we go along for the ride with whatever bizarre scenarios our brain comes up with.

But when more of our brain gets in on the fun (the parts that are related to higher cognitive function, attention, working memory, planning and self-consciousness), things get a little more real.

Suddenly, we are aware that we are in a dream and, with the same cognitive abilities we have in real life, can even control what happens and what we do. This is called lucid dreaming.

Lucid dreaming gets less and less frequent the older we get (it drops off steeply after the age of 25), but about 20 per cent experience lucid dreams at least once a month. And it is estimated that about 50 per cent of us have had at least one lucid dream in our lifetime.

It is not clear what purpose lucid dreaming serves, nor do we really know why some people lucid-dream more than others. It is suspected that certain neurochemicals may ‘switch on’ parts of our consciousness when they would normally be switched off, so some people may just be naturally equipped with that neurochemical cocktail.

Some researchers have found a connection between an increase in B6 intake and lucid dreaming, while others have discovered associations between people who have strong moods, anxiety and depression and those with a higher frequency of lucid dreaming.

The ability to recall dreams in general is another predictor of lucid dreams, as is adopting a meditation practice.

DIRECT YOUR DREAMS

ONE of the coolest features of lucid dreaming is that you can, in theory, learn how to do it — and then be a more active participant in your dreams. It is a way to explore activities that defy reallife logic (ever wanted to fly?), face your fears or dig deeper into your subconscious. These are the most popular techniques used to harness your dream state: O GET better sleep. The more REM sleep, the longer and more vivid your dreams will be. And to get more REM, you need to be getting long stretches of deep sleep. O KEEP a dream journal. The most important step toward lucid dreaming is tuning into your dreams and recognising that you are dreaming. The moment you wake up, write down everything you remember from your dreams. Then revisit these details to look for patterns. What do you tend to dream about?

As you are dreaming, you will begin to be able to identify these ‘dream signs’ and recognise that you are in a dream state.

DO A REALITY CHECK

LUCID dreaming experts recommend doing frequent ‘reality checks’ throughout the day to confirm whether you are awake or dreaming. When you are awake, it is obvious that you are not dreaming, but the repetition of these reality-affirming actions makes you more likely to repeat them when you are asleep. These are a few of the techniques that experts recommend doing ten times a day: O LOOKING at a clock or a page of text, glancing away and then looking back. In a dream, the time and text are likely to change. O LOOK at your hands and feet. They tend to be distorted in dreams. O TRY pushing the index finger of one hand through the palm of your opposite hand. Do it with the expectation that you will be successful, and ask yourself whether you are dreaming. If you are successful, you will know that you are, in fact, dreaming.

BE A LUCID DREAMER

INSTEAD of immediately writing down a particularly vivid dream after you have woken up, try going back to sleep and re-entering the dream. But this time, be mindful of the fact that you are dreaming.

If you are successful in lucid dreaming, staying in the dream can be difficult at first.

This can be because the realisation that you are dreaming is so exciting that you get a jolt of adrenaline, or because you forget you are dreaming.

In order to settle into this new state, expert lucid dreamers recommend techniques for going deeper into your dream and essentially distracting your mind from waking up: O DO A simple maths equation (such as 3 + 3 = 6). Engaging a highfunctioning part of your brain helps you build and keep consciousness while dreaming. O RUB your hands together or spin around. Research has found that initiating movement with your mind can stimulate the conscious brain, drawing more awareness to your dream state body. O STAY calm. Getting over-excited or alarmed will cause a dream to end abruptly. Lucid-dream experts suggest looking at your hands to centre yourself in the moment.