Science & Technology

Scientists are building a device that can induce lucid dreams on demand

By T.K. Randall
November 12, 2023

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) If you've ever become 'aware' during a dream and found that you could control what was happening, then you've had what is known as a lucid dream. Some people are able to have lucid dreams quite often while, for others, it might only happen once in a lifetime.

Those who do experience them often report a number of psychological benefits ranging from an improved mood to a reduction in symptoms of anxiety and PTSD.

This is why Eric Wollberg and Wesley Louis Berry III decided to found Prophetic , a new company which aims to produce a wearable device (known as Halo) that uses ultrasound and machine learning models to "detect when dreamers are in REM to induce and stabilize lucid dreams."

"It's an extraordinary thing to become aware in your own mind and in your own dreams; it's a surreal and spiritual-esque experience," Wollberg told Motherboard in a recent interview."Recreationally, it's the ultimate VR experience. You can fly, you can make a building rise out of the ground, you can talk to dream characters, and you can explore."

Whether or not the team can actually build a working device remains to be seen. As things stand, the first commercially available version of Halo is slated for a tentative release in 2025.

"The list of benefits of lucid dreaming is long," said Berry.

"There's everything from helping with PTSD, reducing anxiety, and improving mood, confidence, motor skills, and creativity. The benefits are really outstanding."

Source: Vice.com

Tags: Lucid Dreaming