People who regularly experience lucid dreams may have a distinct structural organization of the brain. This conclusion was reached by researchers who found that the tendency to become aware of oneself during sleep is linked to integrated neural networks responsible for self-awareness, imagination, and cognitive control. The study was published in the Journal of Sleep Research (JSR).

Lucid dreams occur when a person realizes they are asleep and dreaming, and sometimes can even control events within the dream. Previous studies have examined brain activity during such states, but the anatomical features that may be associated with the ability to have lucid dreams have remained largely unexplored.

The study involved 30 healthy adult volunteers — 15 men and 15 women with an average age of about 26. First, participants completed detailed questionnaires about their sleep habits, indicating how often they remember regular dreams and how frequently they experience lucid dreams.

Researchers then conducted high-resolution brain scans using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The scientists analyzed two types of brain tissue: gray matter, where information processing occurs, and white matter, which is responsible for transmitting signals between different brain regions.

Machine learning methods were used to analyze the data. The algorithm identified networks of brain regions whose structures change in a coordinated way across different individuals.

As a result, the researchers discovered a network that includes both gray and white matter and is associated with the frequency of lucid dreaming. It connects regions in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, as well as the cerebellum. These structures are involved in self-reflection, the creation of mental imagery, and the control of attention.

According to the researchers, a particularly important role is played by a brain region called the precuneus. It is located in the posterior part of the brain and is associated with internal mental processes and visual imagination.

Scientists also identified another network linked to lucid dreaming that consists only of gray matter. It is located in visual and attention-related areas of the brain, such as the cuneus gyrus. This system is believed to help generate vivid visual scenes during dreams without the input of real light.

According to the researchers, these findings suggest that the ability to experience lucid dreams may be linked to a specific neuroanatomical organization of the brain.

In the future, scientists plan to investigate whether practicing lucid dreaming can change brain structure over time. Understanding the mechanisms behind this state may help develop new treatments for sleep disorders, such as chronic nightmares and post-traumatic stress conditions.