Part of Jagiellonian University in Kraków
Part of Jagiellonian University in Kraków

I did not expect to be dreaming: Explaining realization in lucid dreams with a Bayesian framework

Abstract

The commonsense view is that a lucid dream starts when the dreamer realizes that they are currently dreaming. The notion of realization, however, has been accepted at face value, with little consideration of whether the dreamer realizes that they are dreaming in the sense of actual reasoning, or if it is a mere epiphenomenon of lucid dream initiation. This article offers a solution to this problem by, first, arguing that the transition to lucidity can occur as a result of successful reasoning, and second, building a model of this reasoning in terms of probabilistic reasoning. The established Bayesian model explains realization in lucid dreams taking under consideration two factors: the beliefs that the dreamer holds on what is generally probable and improbable, and the dreamer’s admissibility of being in a dream. Defended against important objections, the model offers an explanation of lucid dream initiation, relevant for future research on dreaming.

MCLL People:

Cite as:
Szymanek, P. (2021). I did not expect to be dreaming: Explaining realization in lucid dreams with a Bayesian framework. Consciousness and Cognition, 93(103163). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2021.103163
MCLL is funded by the Excellence Initiative – Jagiellonian University within the Priority Research Area Society of the Future
Funders
Contact
Main Market Square 34,
31-010 Krakow, Poland
mcll@uj.edu.pl
linkmagnifiercrossmenuchevron-upchevron-down