EEG and Other Physiological Findings

Abstract

The basic question we had in mind was, "What is happening in the brain when people become lucid?" We have had some ideas about this for many years. Earlier work that we had done indicated that lucid dreams are initiated during periods of cerebral (and autonomic) activation. It can be seen in a typical polygraph example of a lucid dream initiation that on the EOG channel, just a few seconds before the eye signal there is a striking suppression of finger pulse amplitude. It is like a switch is suddenly turned on--sympathetic activation. Likewise, you see a change in the respiration pattern; it changes from a regular rhythm and high amplitude to irregular and low amplitude with an increased rate. Also the top EEG channel will show a large skin potential artifact at the onset of lucidity. All of this indicates that when lucid dreams are initiated there is an activation of the brain. However all examples of the same process may not be identical. For instance the change in respiration may not be as clear.