{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,30]],"date-time":"2025-07-30T16:24:22Z","timestamp":1753892662316,"version":"3.41.2"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,17]],"date-time":"2024-01-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1705449600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) is considered a marker of autonomic nervous system activity in stress research, and atypical waking sAA responses have been reported for traumatized individuals. Lucid dreams, characterized by a dreamer\u2019s awareness of their dream state while remaining asleep, have shown promising preliminary evidence of their potential to enhance mental health. This study\u2019s objective was to evaluate sAA in relation to healing lucid dreams.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>Participants experiencing PTSD symptoms attended a six-day workshop delivered via live video designed to teach techniques for transforming trauma through dreamwork and dream lucidity. Participants (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u200920) collected saliva samples each morning, immediately upon awakening (Time 1) and 30\u2009min afterward (Time 2). sAA levels were determined by enzymatic assay, and the waking sAA slope was calculated as the difference of Time 2 minus Time 1. Participants completed dream reports each morning, with a dream classified as a \u2018healing lucid dream\u2019 when they reported attaining lucidity and remembered their intention to manifest a healing experience within the dreamscape.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Of eight participants experiencing healing lucid dreams, four were able to provide usable saliva samples. Statistical tests on these four participants were not significant because of low power. However, nonsignificant positive associations were observed between experiencing more healing lucid dreams and increased waking sAA slope.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>The results did not reveal a consistent effect of healing lucid dreams on waking sAA slope. Identifying meaningful patterns in this relationship will require larger samples and more stringent control over saliva collection procedures in future studies.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2024.1347499","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,17]],"date-time":"2024-01-17T09:51:26Z","timestamp":1705485086000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Trends in waking salivary alpha-amylase levels following healing lucid dreams"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Garret","family":"Yount","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sitara","family":"Taddeo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tadas","family":"Stumbrys","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Kriegsman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Helan\u00e9","family":"Wahbeh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4939-2089-1_2","article-title":"Sleep in ancient Egypt","volume-title":"Sleep medicine","author":"Asaad","year":"2015"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"305","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2019.03.008","article-title":"The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming","volume":"100","author":"Baird","year":"2019","journal-title":"Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev."},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"489","DOI":"10.1002\/jts.22059","article-title":"The posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5): development and initial psychometric evaluation","volume":"28","author":"Blevins","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Trauma. Stress."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1080\/15402002.2020.1739688","article-title":"Managing insomnia using lucid dreaming training: a pilot study","volume":"19","author":"Ellis","year":"2021","journal-title":"Behav. Sleep Med."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"309","DOI":"10.11588\/ijodr.2020.2.75952","article-title":"Self-percieved effects of lucid dreaming on mental and physical health","volume":"13","author":"Erlacher","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Dream Res."},{"year":"2002","author":"Georgiou","key":"ref6"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20190697","DOI":"10.1098\/rstb.2019.0697","article-title":"Virtual reality training of lucid dreaming","volume":"376","author":"Gott","year":"2021","journal-title":"Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1826","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2020.01826","article-title":"Cognitions in sleep: lucid dreaming as an intervention for nightmares in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder","volume":"11","author":"Holzinger","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"volume-title":"Collected works of CG Jung, volume 12: psychology and alchemy vol. 1","year":"1968","author":"Jung","key":"ref9"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"344","DOI":"10.1089\/cap.2014.0034","article-title":"Elevated salivary alpha amylase in adolescent sexual abuse survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms","volume":"25","author":"Keeshin","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Child Adolesc. Psychopharmacol."},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1417","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cub.2021.01.026","article-title":"Real-time dialogue between experimenters and dreamers during REM sleep","volume":"31","author":"Konkoly","year":"2021","journal-title":"Curr. Biol."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e51","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopsych.2017.03.007","article-title":"It is time to address the crisis in the pharmacotherapy of posttraumatic stress disorder: a consensus statement of the PTSD psychopharmacology working group","volume":"82","author":"Krystal","year":"2017","journal-title":"Biol. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4757-0423-5_2","article-title":"Lucid dreaming in western literature","volume-title":"Conscious mind, sleeping brain: perspectives on lucid dreaming","author":"LaBerge","year":"1988"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"727","DOI":"10.2466\/pms.1981.52.3.727","article-title":"Lucid dreaming verified by volitional communication during REM sleep","volume":"52","author":"LaBerge","year":"1981","journal-title":"Percept. Mot. Skills"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1521","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2012.12.021","article-title":"Reduction in salivary \u03b1-amylase levels following a mind\u2013body intervention in cancer survivors\u2014an exploratory study","volume":"38","author":"Lipschitz","year":"2013","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.4103\/ijny.ijoyppp_3_18","article-title":"Assessment of dreams in context to health and disease: traditional Indian understanding","volume":"7","author":"Munishwar","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Yoga Philos. Psychol. Parapsychol."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"486","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2009.01.014","article-title":"Salivary alpha-amylase as a non-invasive biomarker for the sympathetic nervous system: current state of research","volume":"34","author":"Nater","year":"2009","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"392","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2007.02.007","article-title":"Determinants of the diurnal course of salivary alpha-amylase","volume":"32","author":"Nater","year":"2007","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nlm.2013.11.018","article-title":"Interaction of noradrenaline and cortisol predicts negative intrusive memories in posttraumatic stress disorder","volume":"112","author":"Nicholson","year":"2014","journal-title":"Neurobiol. Learn. Mem."},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.32628\/IJSRSET21811","article-title":"The potentials of subconscious mind","volume":"8","author":"Priya","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Sci. Res. Sci. Eng. Technol."},{"key":"ref21","first-page":"339","article-title":"Healing cults in antiquity: the dream cures of Asclepius of Epidaurus","volume":"12","author":"Rousselle","year":"1985","journal-title":"J. Psychohist."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"296","DOI":"10.11588\/ijodr.2021.2.81533","article-title":"The healing and transformative potential of lucid dreaming for treating clinical depression","volume":"14","author":"Sackwild","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Dream Res."},{"key":"ref01","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"785","DOI":"10.1002\/jts.22683","article-title":"Salivary cortisol and alpha\u2010amylase in posttraumatic stress disorder and their potential role in the evaluation of cognitive behavioral treatment outcomes","volume":"35","author":"Schumacher","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Traumatic Stress"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"389","DOI":"10.1159\/000095446","article-title":"Lucid dreaming treatment for nightmares: a pilot study","volume":"75","author":"Spoormaker","year":"2006","journal-title":"Psychother. Psychosom."},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.11588\/ijodr.2016.2.33114","article-title":"Applications of lucid dreams and their effects on mood upon awakening","volume":"9","author":"Stumbrys","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Dream Res."},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1456","DOI":"10.1016\/j.concog.2012.07.003","article-title":"Induction of lucid dreams: a systematic review of evidence","volume":"21","author":"Stumbrys","year":"2012","journal-title":"Conscious. Cogn."},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1214","DOI":"10.1016\/j.concog.2013.08.005","article-title":"Testing the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in lucid dreaming: a tDCS study","volume":"22","author":"Stumbrys","year":"2013","journal-title":"Conscious. Cogn."},{"year":"2022","author":"Taylor-Desir","key":"ref27"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"810","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2011.09.013","article-title":"Altered salivary alpha-amylase awakening response in Bosnian war refugees with posttraumatic stress disorder","volume":"37","author":"Thoma","year":"2012","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"431","DOI":"10.1002\/ange.19130265902","article-title":"A study of dreams","volume":"26","author":"Van Eeden","year":"1913","journal-title":"PSPR"},{"volume-title":"Dreaming yourself awake: lucid dreaming and Tibetan dream yoga for insight and transformation","year":"2012","author":"Wallace","key":"ref30"},{"volume-title":"The Tibetan Yogas of dream and sleep","year":"1998","author":"Wangyal","key":"ref31"},{"year":"2013","author":"Weathers","key":"ref32"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/trm0000456","article-title":"Decreased posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms following a lucid dream healing workshop","author":"Yount","year":"2023","journal-title":"Traumatology"},{"volume-title":"Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms following a lucid dream workshop: a randomized controlled study","year":"2024","author":"Yount","key":"ref34"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2024.1347499\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,17]],"date-time":"2024-01-17T09:51:33Z","timestamp":1705485093000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2024.1347499\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,17]]},"references-count":35,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2024.1347499"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2024.1347499","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"1664-1078"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,17]]},"article-number":"1347499"}}