Dreams
Lucid Dream
Definition
A dream in which the dreamer is aware they are dreaming while still asleep, and can sometimes consciously influence the dream — a phenomenon confirmed in sleep research.
A lucid dream is one in which you know you are dreaming while still asleep — and sometimes can consciously shape the experience, changing the scene or flying at will. Unusually for a dream topic, this one is well grounded in science: in sleep-lab studies, lucid dreamers have signalled their awareness to researchers with pre-agreed eye movements while verifiably in REM sleep.
Lucidity can arise spontaneously or be cultivated with practice, through techniques like reality testing and keeping a dream journal. For what it is, the research behind it, and how to try it safely, see the full guide to lucid dreaming.