Distinguishing Between a Dream and Reality Just Got a Little Easier
Have you ever woken up from a deep sleep only to wonder if what you were just dreaming actually happened? Well, if researchers have their way, that type of experience will soon be a thing of the past.
According to a new study, sending a not-so-strong electrical current to one’s brain can produce a lucid dreaming experience, National Geographic reported.
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Lucid dreaming can help shed some light on what happens to subconsciously when dreamers switch from little to full awareness, New Scientist reported.
Psychologist Ursula Voss of J.W. Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany led the study.
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The study featured 27 volunteers who, according to The Globe and Mail, said they were aware while dreaming after having electrodes applied to their scalps.
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The study’s participants had electrical currents ranging from 2 to 100 Hertz sent to each of their frontal lobes until researchers found just the right frequency, National Geographic reported.
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It’s a small study. If replicated, the findings could potentially be used for treating the recurring nightmares that many with post traumatic stress disorder suffer from, Dr. Voss told The Globe and Mail.
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