Dreams have always been an interesting concept to us as humans. In 1970, dream machines were created to track and influence this part of our subconscious. In 1975 at Hull University, they measured REM sleep through zig-zag movements on Electro-oculographs (EOG). Now fMRI’s are used to study the brains of active lucid dreamers. Lucid dreaming happens during the REM stage of sleep when your dreams are most vivid. These dreams are any dream in which one is aware that they are dreaming. 

 

Lucid dreams have higher states of consciousness than those in waking reality. Scientists discovered that there was a sort of dream playback through the fMRI’s. The same brain activity used to clench your fist in reality was the same if you were dreaming you were clenching your fist. When you are lucid dreaming, you are really exploring what it means to be aware.