A lucid dream is a dream in which you know that you are dreaming. Some people can even control part of the dream. However, lucid dreams are usually difficult to create on purpose.

A recent study from Italy tested a new training method that combines virtual reality (VR), meditation, and traditional dream exercises. Thirty-eight people joined a five-week program. Everyone kept a dream diary and regularly asked themselves, “Am I dreaming?” This action is called a reality check. (frontiersin.org)

One group also completed eight special VR sessions. Each session began with about 15 minutes of open-monitoring meditation. During this meditation, participants calmly noticed their breathing, body, thoughts, and feelings. They then spent about 20 minutes in a dream-like virtual world. There, they practiced finding strange details, doing reality checks, and taking control of unusual situations.

The results were promising. The special VR group reported 26 lucid or partly lucid dreams. By comparison, the group using ordinary VR reported four, while the group without VR reported 11. About 85% of the special VR group experienced at least one lucid-like dream. The researchers concluded that VR alone was not enough. The dream-related exercises and meditation seemed to be important parts of the training. (frontiersin.org)

An earlier study also found that dream-like VR training could increase lucid dreaming. In that research, some lucid dreams were confirmed in a sleep laboratory through planned eye movements. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Still, the new study was small, and most results came from participants’ own reports. Larger studies must confirm whether the method truly works. Scientists also need to study each part separately to learn whether VR, meditation, or their combination produces the strongest effect.

For now, VR may offer an interesting practice space between waking life and dreams. By learning to notice strange experiences while awake, people may become more likely to recognize a dream while they are sleeping.