EEG microstates reveal distinct network dynamics in lucid and non-lucid REM sleep

During lucid dreaming, dreamers are by definition aware that they are dreaming. Numerous studies have linked lucid dreaming to vivid visual perception, more positive emotions, and wake-like metacognition and executive functions. To determine brain network activity associated with conscious experience during lucid dreaming, we compared EEG activity during non-lucid REM vs. lucid REM using EEG microstate analysis. We found that microstates A and G dominated during lucid REM sleep compared to non-lucid REM sleep, while microstates B, C, and D were diminished. Then we explored candidate cognitive correlates of these changes by associating our microstate maps with previous findings based on topographical similarity. In agreement with previous studies, we found an inverse relationship between the presence of specific microstate classes and the cognitive functions, suggesting that the suppression of specific microstate classes may facilitate specific cognitive processes during sleep. Our results suggest that lucidity during REM sleep was associated with increased self-visualization, metacognition, and executive processing, along with reduced default mode network-related cognitive activity.