Lucid dreaming training, a method that blends meditation with virtual-reality exercises while awake, increased the frequency of lucid dreams in a small study, according to researchers.
Lucid dreaming occurs when a sleeper becomes aware they are dreaming and can sometimes influence what happens next. Scientists say this state reflects a temporary return of metacognition, or the ability to think about one’s own thoughts, during sleep.
In the new research involving a few dozen adults, participants completed meditation and VR-augmented tasks designed to reinforce that awareness twice a week over the course of a month. The team reported that, on average, those who followed the protocol experienced lucid dreams more often by the end of the training period.
Although the findings suggest potential benefits, the authors emphasized that practical uses remain unproven. They note the approach could one day help people who experience frequent nightmares, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, but they cautioned that such applications are theoretical at this stage and will require larger, longer trials to validate.
How lucid dreaming training may help
By practicing metacognitive skills during wakefulness, the program aims to make it easier to recognize the dream state as it unfolds. Some participants also reported limited control over dream content or direction, a hallmark of lucid dreams that could, if confirmed in future studies, support clinical strategies to reduce nightmare distress.
The researchers said the next steps include testing the regimen in broader populations and comparing it with other methods intended to induce lucid dreams. For now, they encourage cautious interpretation of the early results.