A psychology student researcher is seeking to prove that B vitamins can enhance people's dreaming experience.
University of Adelaide student Denholm Aspy is looking for 150 volunteers to participate in his study of the many aspects of dreams and whether people can be more in control over them.
"Early research suggests that taking vitamin B6 may be able to make dreams more vivid, colorful, emotional and bizarre, and other B vitamins may also help people to remember their dreams," Aspy said.
The study participants will be randomly given capsules to be taken before going to sleep then will be asked to answer a questionnaire about their dreams and their sleep every morning after for five days. Participants may be given a vitamin B6 capsule set, a vitamin B complex one or a placebo.
"In order to have lucid dreams, it is very important to first be able to recall dreams on a regular basis," Aspy said. He elaborates that B vitamins may be able to help people have more detailed dreams and be able to recall them better, enabling them to have more instances of lucid dreams.
Previous studies have already been done to establish a connection between dreaming and vitamin B6. Aspy said that his study will involve a bigger group of people and the effects of other B vitamins in addition to B6 on dreams.
The study will support the other research Aspy is working on about lucid dreaming, wherein dreamers are aware that they are dreaming and can even have control over the events of the experience.
He adds that having more lucid dreams and the ability to recall them can bring health benefits. Lucid dreams, according to previous studies, can help treat phobias and nightmares, refine problem solving and motor skills, and even help rehabilitate physical trauma.
"The average person spends around five years of their lives dreaming," Aspy explained, adding that if people could become more lucid and have more control over their dreams, they may be able to utilize the experience more productively.
It is still unclear why some people can recall their dreams better than others or what increases the likelihood of having lucid dreams. Aspy believes genetics, sleeping habits and lifestyle factors may perhaps have some influence.
"Dietary factors, genetic factors—there are many different things that can influence dreaming," he said. "Some people seem to be more restless in the night so they wake up more often and that makes it easier for people to recall dreams."
Photo: Randen Pederson | Flickr
