Making Inception a Reality: Lucid Dreaming in Science Fiction and Technology

Abstract

The concept of lucid dreaming, where the dreamer recognizes that he or she is dreaming and has some control over the direction of the dream, has become more widely recognized since the late twentieth century. With the success of science-fiction movies such as Inception (2010), in which the protagonists create, manipulate, and even "hijack" dreams, lucid dreaming has spread to the public. This popularity has contributed to a new market for dream technology, with consumer products aimed towards helping users experience lucid dreaming. At the same time, lucid dreaming has become more widely accepted in academia as a scientific field, especially in the fields of neuroscience and psychology. Researchers are using new technology to build upon existing knowledge of dreaming. However, there remains a disconnect between the public view of lucid dreaming and the actual state of the scientific field, in particular regarding recent developments in dream technology. This article focuses on the current relationships between depictions of lucid dreaming in popular culture and in academia. The comparison of lucid dreaming portrayals in these areas reveals connections between science-fiction ideas and actual scientific research, together contributing to an increased potential for advancing lucid dreaming technology in the future.