Stephen LaBerge

Stephen LaBerge is a psychophysiologist and a leader in the scientific study of lucid dreaming. He began researching lucid dreaming for his Ph. D at Stanford University. He developed techniques to enable himself and other researchers to enter a lucid dream state at will, most notably the MILD technique (mnemonic induction of lucid dreams), which was necessary for many forms of dream experimentation. [ [http://www.lucidity.com/LucidDreamingFAQ2.html#LIQ Lucid Dreaming Frequently Asked Questions Answered by The Lucidity Institute ] ] In 1987, he founded The Lucidity Institute, an organization that promotes research into lucid dreaming, as well as running courses for the general public on how to achieve a lucid dream. [ [http://www.lucidity.com/info.html About the Lucidity Institute ] ]

His technique of signalling to a collaborator monitoring his EEG with agreed-upon eye movements during REM became the first published, scientifically-verified signal from a dreamer's mind to the outside world. The first confirmed signal came from Alan Worsley under study in England; however his group did not publish their results until later. [ [http://spiritwatch.ca/alan_worsley.htm Alan Worsley ] ] Though the technique is simple, it opens broad new avenues of dream research and pushed the field of dream research, or oneirology, beyond its protoscientific and largely discredited psychoanalytic roots, establishing it as a fruitful and respectable discipline.

Research results

Results from LaBerge's lab and others [ [http://www.lucidity.com/SleepAndCognition.html Psychophysiology of Lucid Dreaming ] ] include:
*comparison of subjective sense of time in dreams versus the waking state using eye signals
*comparison of electrical activity in the brain when singing while awake, and while in a dream
*various studies comparing physiological sexual arousal and in-dream sex, and most interestingly, orgasm.

Lucid dreaming education and facilitation

LaBerge developed a series of devices to help users enter a lucid state while dreaming. The original device was called a DreamLight, which was discontinued in favor of the NovaDreamer, designed by experienced lucid dreamer Craig Webb for the Lucidity Institute while he worked there and participated in lucid dreaming research at Stanford. At the time of writing (2007) it is not possible to purchase any of these devices from the Lucidity Institute website. An improved version of the NovaDreamer is allegedly under development. [ [http://www.lucidity.com/novadreamer.html The NovaDreamer Lucid Dream Induction Device ] ]

All of the devices consist of a mask worn over the eyes with LEDs positioned over the eyelids. The LEDs flash whenever the mask detects that the wearer has entered REM sleep. The stimulus is incorporated into the wearer's dreams and can be recognised as a sign that they are dreaming [ [http://www.lucidity.com/LucidDreamingFAQ2.html#technology Lucid Dreaming Frequently Asked Questions Answered by The Lucidity Institute ] ] .

Stephen LaBerge currently lectures at Universities and other professional institutions, and hosts lucid dreaming sessions at various locations.

Bibliography

LaBerge has produced several books about lucid dreaming.

* 1985 "Lucid Dreaming: The power of being aware and awake in your dreams"
* 1987 "Controlling Your Dreams" (audio cassette)
* 1990 "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming", with Howard Rheingold
* 2002 "KISS guide to dreams", with Lisa Lenard
* 2004 "Lucid Dreaming: A Concise Guide to Awakening in Your Dreams and in Your Life" (a short book bundled with a CD)

References

External links

* [http://www.lucidity.com The Lucidity Institute]
* Laberge, S. (1980). Lucid dreaming: An exploratory study of consciousness during sleep. (Ph.D. thesis, Stanford University, 1980), (University Microfilms No. 80-24, 691)