A new study by Dr. Denholm Aspy, of the University of Adelaide’s School of Psychology in Australia, has cracked the nightmare code with a new technique to control dreams. The secret? Lucid dreaming.
The study found that a technique called MILD (Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams) was most effective for inducing lucid dreaming. The technique requires you to wake up after five hours, and repeat the phrase “The next time I am dreaming, I will remember that I am dreaming” while imagining yourself in a lucid dream.
Per the study, test subjects fell asleep within five minutes, with a 46% chance of lucid dreaming once they did.
The MILD technique works by using prospective memory (your ability to remember to do things in the future). “By repeating a phrase that you will remember you’re dreaming, it forms an intention in your mind that you will, in fact, remember that you are dreaming, leading to a lucid dream,” explains Dr. Aspy.
Even better, it was found that lucid dreaming did not have a negative impact on sleep quality. Subjects that reported success using the MILD technique were less sleep deprived in the morning. Dr. Aspy hopes to perfect this technique, and ultimately prevent nightmares.
One thing’s for sure, we’re excited to finally stop tossing and turning from our nightmares of sleeping on gross layered foam mattresses.