A study reveals one important thing that can help us control dreams (lucid dreams). Research published in 2018 revealed one of the most effective ways to induce it.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Lucidity Institute in Hawaii wanted to investigate how chemicals called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEls) can induce lucid dreams.
The neurotransmitter Acetylcholine is thought to help modulate REM sleep, and AChEls help these compounds accumulate in the brain by inhibiting an enzyme (called acetylcholinesterase) that inactivates acetylcholine. A common drug used to treat memory loss in Alzheimer's disease -- known as galantamine -- is a fast-acting AChEI with only mild side effects, so researchers recruited 121 participants to see what effect the drug had on their ability to have and remember lucid dreams.
It is noteworthy that these volunteers are not ordinary people, but fans and enthusiasts of lucid dream issues. They have also been training with lucid dream induction protocols, including what is known as the MILD technique.
According to Science Alert, for three consecutive nights, participants took increased doses of the drug, starting with a placebo, then 4 mg, then 8 mg on the last night. Each night, participants woke 4.5 hours after the lights went out, practiced dream induction techniques, swallowed a capsule, and went back to sleep.
What are the results of the research? When taking placebo (0 mg galantamine but still using the MILD technique), 14% of participants reported lucid dreaming, but this increased to 27% when 4 mg was taken and rose to 42% at the 8 mg dose.
"This combined protocol resulted in a total of 69 of 121 participants (57%) successfully having lucid dreams at least one of two nights with the active dose of galantamine," the researchers wrote in their 2018 paper.
"This protocol is one of the most effective methods of promoting lucid dreaming known to date, and holds promise for making lucid dreaming accessible to a wider population."
It is known, only a handful of humans can control their dreams or experience lucid dreams. With this research, it is hoped that all will have the same opportunity to experience lucid dreams.
In addition to helping people enjoy dreams where they can help control what happens, this research can also help explain the link between lucid dreaming and consciousness. Furthermore, it can help people face their fears and process trauma during sleep safely.
There has been no explanation and further research on the safety of galantamine to induce lucid dreams. no one should experiment with galantamine on their own
