ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF CONSCIOUS EXPERIENCES DURING SLEEP: LUCID DREAMS, SLEEP PARALYSIS, OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCES, AND FALSE AWAKENINGS

Abstract

Consciousness does not always fade during sleep. Instead, it can re-emerge, giving rise to lucid dreams (LDs), sleep paralysis (SP), out-of-body experiences (OBEs), and false awakenings (FAs). While some of these states have been studied phenomenologically, their neurophysiological underpinnings remain unclear. Here, we investigate their electrophysiological correlates and distinguish them from standard sleep stages. We conducted overnight polysomnography in frequent experiencers, capturing 10 episodes (3 LDs, 2 SP, 2 OBEs, 3 FAs). Eye movement markers identified periods of lucidity. Relative spectral power was analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and permutation-based multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA). Our results indicate that these conscious sleep states are distinct from wakefulness, yet share features with both stage 1 (S1) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Notably, we provide the first documented eye movement markers during FAs and OBEs.