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New Lucid Dream Research Supports Brainwave Entrainment

New lucid dream research at the Neurological Laboratory in Frankfurt, Germany, has proven that lucid dreaming is not merely a REM dreaming phenomenon - but a unique state of consciousness.

As Ryan Hurd reported in the recent September 2009 issue of the Lucid Dream Exchange magazine, "lucid dreams are shown to differ from ordinary (REM) dreams by an increased brain frequency in the 40 Hz (or GAMMA) range in the frontal and frontolateral areas of the brain." Many scientists consider these areas the seat of linguistic thought - and higher awareness.

A Hybrid State of Consciousness

What does this lucid dream research mean? While experts have considered lucid dreaming a mixed state of REM dreaming and waking cognition for years, this new EEG evidence led scientists to conclude that it is a new state of consciousness altogether.

This hybrid state of waking and dreaming fits well with Allan Hobson's AIM model for sleep cognition. The AIM model predicts different levels of consciousness based on three features:

• Whether the imagery is sourced internally or externally
• The activation levels of the brain
• The modulation of the state by brain chemicals

So lucid dreaming can now arguably be mapped as a completely separate state from REM dreaming - thanks to the GAMMA brainwave frequency now associated with it.

Support for Brainwave Entrainment

The detection of this increased GAMMA brainwave frequency bodes well for those of us seeking lucid dreaming with brainwave entrainment.

In the past, many people have reported successful lucid dreams through brainwave entrainment MP3s that guide the brain into the optimum state for lucid dreaming, first by relaxing the body into a meditative state, then triggering the GAMMA frequency state that is necessary for self-awareness to be present.

Now, this lucid dream research offers us hard evidence for this mechanism. Indeed, high levels of meditation have been scientifically linked with the GAMMA brainwave frequency range (Lutz et al, 2004) and even the ability to be hypnotized (De Pascalis, 1993). There is also a scientific link between regular meditation to achieve altered states and the ability to lucid dream.

If you are interested in using brainwave entrainment to experience more lucid dreams on demand, I recommend the Lucid Dreaming MP3 which guides your brain into a sleepy, meditative state to initiate REM dreaming, then back to the GAMMA band to trigger lucid dreaming. Brainwave entrainment technology is an excellent way to become more self-aware both through waking states and in dreams.