Researchers Demonstrate Electrical Stimulation of the Motor Cortex During Sleep
Researchers working with a lucid dreaming technology company have conducted, for the first time, a study that applies electrical stimulation to the motor cortex while a participant remains asleep. A preprint of the findings appeared on a scientific sharing platform maintained by the research community.
In the experiment, electrodes were placed on the scalp to reach targeted brain regions. The goal was to observe how the cerebral cortex participates in dream content during the phase when the dream becomes apparent. The lead researcher behind the project, Mikhail Raduga, who also oversees the Phase Research Center, discussed the work in an interview with a news outlet dedicated to science and truth. Raduga also served as a test subject. He reported that the stimulation targeted an area associated with extending the fingers of the left hand, and objects were perceived to fall from his grasp when a mild current was applied during dream sleep.
Raduga cautioned that in the near term it is unlikely that healthy individuals would undergo brain stimulation while dreaming with the aim of shaping dream plots. He emphasized safety concerns and noted that noninvasive approaches could soon offer similar control over dream direction. The potential implications suggest a future where dream content could be guided to some extent, enabling experiences that go beyond ordinary nocturnal imagery.
The researchers revealed that the technology may hold particular promise for people who experience nightmares or who are immobile due to paralysis. Such applications could make dream experiences more vivid and emotionally meaningful for those who are otherwise restricted in their daily lives.
According to the team, while lucid dreaming might be a form of entertainment for many, it can become a powerful therapeutic tool for bedridden individuals who crave emotional richness and a sense of presence that their bodies cannot provide. The results point toward the development of safe, efficient devices designed to deliver controlled dream experiences for therapeutic use.
Earlier work from a psychologist shed light on why people can have unusually vivid or exciting dreams. This newer research builds on that understanding by exploring how direct brain stimulation could influence dream content and emotional tone, opening new avenues for dream research and potential clinical applications.