London, Jan 25 (IANS) Researchers have discovered that the brain area which enables self-reflection is larger in lucid dreamers.
Lucid dreamers are those who know that they are dreaming and accordingly can live out there.
They are also more self-reflecting when being awake, found the study.
Sometimes, they can even play an active role in their dreams.
"Our results indicate that self-reflection in everyday life is more pronounced in persons who can easily control their dreams," said Elisa Filevich from Centre for Lifespan Psychology at Max Planck Institute for Human Development.
Lucid dreaming is closely related to the human capability of self-reflection - the so-called metacognition.
Neuroscientists have compared brain structures of frequent lucid dreamers and participants who never or only rarely have lucid dreams.
The anterior prefrontal cortex, i.e., the brain area controlling conscious cognitive processes and playing an important role in the capability of self-reflection, is larger in lucid dreamers.
The differences in volumes in the anterior prefrontal cortex between lucid dreamers and non-lucid dreamers suggest that lucid dreaming and metacognition are indeed closely connected.
This theory is backed by the brain images taken when test persons were solving metacognitive tests while being awake.
Those images show that the brain activity in the prefrontal cortex was higher in lucid dreamers.
The researchers further want to know whether metacognitive skills can be trained.
In a follow-up study, they intend to train volunteers in lucid dreaming to examine whether this improves the capability of self-reflection.
The study appeared in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Modi attacks AAP over donations (Second Lead)
New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday hit out at the AAP over the allege
DPS i.e. Delhi Public School (DPS) is considered one of the most prestigious school chains across
The fierce clash between bus and oil tanker in Pakistan's Punjab province, 20 people burnt alive
A painful incident has come to light from the Punjab province of Pakistan. On Tuesday, 20 people
Political turmoil continues over the case of atrocities against a trainee doctor (Kolkata Doctor
In India, people typically retire from work at 60, but by 83, talk of retiring from life begins.
President, PM congratulate ISRO for successful satellite launch
New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Satur
From now on, the country's general budget is going to be presented. From the common man to people
India-US Arrive at Modus vivendi on Nuclear Deal (Comment:Special to IANS)
The much awaited and long-delayed modus-vivendi between India and the US over the finalization o
The rescheduled Test match is to be played between India and England at the Edgbaston ground in B
Punjab election 2022: Former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh formally resigned from Congress to
