You know that dream where you survive the zombie apocalypse, then die and become a zombie and start killing other people? Oh no wait, that was the vs game of L4D2 last night. Even if it was a dream, new research says that gamers are more likely to have lucid dreams – and we aren’t as afraid of nightmares.
Jayne Gackenbach, a psychologist at Canada’s Grant MacEwan University, has done extensive research into the impact of video games on dreaming. She draws an interesting parallel:
The major parallel between gaming and dreaming is that, in both instances, you’re in an alternate reality, whether a biological construct or a technological one. It’s interesting to think about how these alternate realities translate to waking consciousness, when you are actually reacting to inputs from the real world.
Gackenbach found that hardcore gamers were more likely to experience lucid dreams; for the uninitiated, this means that gamers are more likely to become aware they are dreaming and take control of the experience. These lucid dreamers are even able to toggle between first and third-person perspective in their dreams. Why is this important?
gamers and lucid dreamers both displayed traits like intense focus and superior spatial awareness in their waking lives
Well, we all knew that, right? Gaming improves reflexes, awareness and focus. So we are actually leveling up as human beings by playing games. Ding!
I love the part about nightmares, though. Apparently gamers, particularly male gamers, are able to take control and sometimes even enjoy unpleasant dreams. Rather than waking up in a cold sweat, gamers carry on sleeping. Putting this in perspective, nightmares are often seen as an evolutionary mechanism to train us to deal with threats before we encounter them in real life. Gackenbach argues that maybe games are removing the evolutionary need for nightmares and their emotional responses – we are already experiencing that training in game.
Finally, Gackenbach also noted that gamers tend to have more bizarre dreams, including impossible scenarios, than their non-gaming peers. Such off-the-wall dreams have already been linked to enhanced creative output in waking life. You guessed it – gaming also makes us more creative in the real world.
That’s all the excuse I need. So, the next time people argue with you that gaming doesn’t do anything, tell them about the increased focus and spatial awareness, defense against nightmares and more creativity. This really makes me wonder why gaming isn’t compulsory for everyone – it’s our best chance at evolving as a species. I know, that sounds crazy, but a girl can dream, right?
Last Updated: January 22, 2014
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:04
1000k points for last night’s 4v4 mention!
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:12
I need to get in on this L4D2 action! I need to find balance between WoW, Xbox and Steam games
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:13
Here is the answer:
1. Stop playing wow, its old and not ayoba
2. Xbox is for peasants
3. Dedicate more time here
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:14
You taking him away from us!
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:15
LOL!
1. I can’t waste my WoW game time man… that’s even less Ayoba!
2. GTAV is fun… so it’ll get some game time
3. Working on it! Got my stuff downloaded or downloading to PC during the day and night… already downloaded around 19gigs worth of Steam games! lol
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:16
1. Doh
2. Doh
3. Awwww yeah
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:16
If he added another bad thing were you gonna say ” why you little!”
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:19
1. It was a gift and only lasts till the 22nd of Feb.
2. Don’t “Doh” that which you cannot play.
3. Steam is dangerous mmmmmkay… got PS2, Team Fortress 2, L4D2, Brothers and Pinball installed already… Absolution busy downloading 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:26
PinballFX2? That game rocks!
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:35
Yep, one in the same… actually have it on my Win8 pc as well linked to my Live account 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:38
They had a whole bunch of tables on a Humble Weekly sale a few months ago, then I picked up the rest over the Xmas sale. Only one I don’t have is the new Dr Strange one 😀
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:40
You’re worse than my friend that went out and ONLY got the Star Wars tables.
loftie
January 22, 2014 at 12:56
nine hundred and thirty……..NINE……nine hundred and thirty nine MILLION, 3000 and 60000…
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:05
Lucid dreaming of completely random, weird shit wouldn’t be possible without my games!
Like the new avatar there Zoe… trying to be like Gavin? 😛
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:06
I think they all should have those Avatars, seems somehow more professional lol
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:05
We may be better at having lucid dreams, but nightmares are still nightmares, sometimes the games actually causes the nightmares.. I mean just the other night had a never ending capra demon fight! the verdict too much Dark Souls before bed.. but to be honest only things in nightmares that are scary is supernatural stuff.. well for me anyway.
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:08
Nightmares? Oh, those are probably those dreams I call “Weird as hell”.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:09
The worst kind of dreams are those when you spend all this time with a babe and you on a island somewhere and when you wake up you like “CRAP!! its all gone!!”
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:10
Lol! I hope your wife doesn’t read your comments!
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:12
Thankfully no! but those dreams I had alot when I was single! I get alot of dreams of the future to be honest, saw my ps2 when I was 10 years old, wondered wtf is that thing!?! and when first saw ps2 I was like it all makes sense now! Deja vu is annoying sometimes really is!
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:13
Yeah it totally is… bugs the hell out of me personally.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:14
Best dreams (read best as weirdest) are when I have a bunch of red meat before bed time.
Its like I become a feral hunter in my dreams then
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:15
Eating too much Garlic makes me have bad ass nightmares! Redmeat makes me sleep like a baby!
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:16
It makes you wake up crying every 2 hours?
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:17
eish…Fine sleep like a dead man!
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:07
This is quite true I think. I have not waken up in a cold sweat from a nightmare since, forever.
I once dreamed Trevor wanted to ask me out, but that’s beyond a nightmare O_O
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:08
That is a Night Terror! or should say night Trevor! trolllol
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:12
Indeed. 14 weeks of submersion in a sensory deprivation tank cured me
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 10:22
Have you tried one? Quite an experience.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:26
I wanna try that one sound room, where it’s so quiet that you can head your blood flow in your veins!
(goes looking for link)
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 10:28
I actually tried the tank, which is the same as the sound room (as in no sound at all) but is filled with body temperature salted water so you are suspended meaning you don’t feel like you are touching anything, you cannot hear anything, and it is pitch black. Was in for an hour, felt like a day.
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 22, 2014 at 10:30
Sounds like fun. Until the sanity starts to set in that is.
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 10:31
You mean lack thereof! I ended up tripping, thought I was running through a forest and shit.
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 22, 2014 at 10:34
I hold the view it’s normal for people to be insane.
After all the world is a crazy place and if you were sane you wouldn’t be able to handle it and you’d need to be put in a stable never changing environment, a white padded room seems like a good choice.
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 10:35
HAHAHA! After my experience last Friday, this is the most true statement.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:30
Awesome
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 10:35
Here is a pic, women wasn’t included in my package…
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:36
Foreversp?
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 10:38
No, more like #1hrR300 😛
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 22, 2014 at 10:38
Do they charge extra for physical contact?
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:44
bwhahaha
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 10:44
As it’s pitch black I would be too scared to ask!
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:47
Might be better to ask than find out by physical contact.
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 10:50
Ahh, now your experience is making so much more sense. Shame bro, I’d say I feel for you, but apparently that has already been done 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:52
You’re projecting again 😛
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 10:56
Indeed. Astral projection is one of the reasons for sensory deprivation… Oh, and LAME! 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 11:02
I’m being considerate of your traumatic brain cell injury.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:49
What is the point of this? must be kinda freaky!
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 11:10
It’s supposed to be like meditation.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:36
I did a 30 min floatation thingy at a spa once, was a 2m diameter pool & they had flickering lights to simulate stars. It was boring – after about 15/20 min of floating I amused myself by bouncing around the pool. They were also supposed to be playing ocean noises but instead it was this really annoying mood positive thinking music crap.
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 10:39
Nah, here is a pic of what we did. Salt water so you couldn’t touch the bottom and pitch black.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:26
This one:
http://news.discovery.com/human/life/worlds-quietest-room-will-drive-you-crazy-in-30-minutes.htm
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 22, 2014 at 10:13
No. A Night Trevor.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:14
too late I edited it ages ago old man!
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 22, 2014 at 10:17
Drat
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:27
Fear me & my dream invading abilities!
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:08
I’m surprised you woke up from that… sounds like one of those “death” dreams.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:16
Because I wanted to but didn’t? No wonder that was a nightmare 😉
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:20
Maybe in your dreams, not mine 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:24
#foreverSP :/
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 22, 2014 at 10:11
yeah we rock! That being said I very rarely get upset about bad dreams as I really can’t. It’s just a dream so why should it affect me.
However, I have still not achieved that lucid dreaming level after many years of grinding. I think I have a bug in my client perhaps. The ability just won’t unlock!
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:13
Poor Avoman not having dreams, but Sleep Paralysis lately…
Unavengedavo
January 22, 2014 at 10:49
It sucks… But I actually had a lucid dream last night was epic 😀
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 22, 2014 at 10:17
I’ve been having lucid dreams for years now and didn’t even know there was a name for it.
When I have a intense nightmare (the waking up covered in sweat type) I can’t go back to sleep until I’ve figured out a way to defeat it, except for that one dream…
A bunch of random cubes, balls, cones and other shapes moving around seemingly at random until 2 small balls move towards each other and just before they collide I wake up. For some reason the moment just before those balls collide is the single most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced.
This is the only dream I’ve ever had repeat and ever since I forced myself to stay asleep through the terror I haven’t had it since.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 22, 2014 at 10:18
Dude. Teach me how! I want to be able to lucid dream 🙁
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:19
5htp causes lucid dreaming, good if you have low serotonin too.
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 22, 2014 at 10:19
No idea.
It generally seems to happen when I’m in that half-awake, half-asleep state.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:18
anyone ever have what I call the sandpaper dream? Its like you dream you feel like your skin is all weird and like sandpaper and you cant fix it no matter what! (edit I have a feeling I am alone on this)
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:19
You’re weird….
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:20
thanks for pointing that out captain obvious!
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:20
No problem Private Weirdo
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:21
Hahaha, I vote on new nickname!
Private Weirdo Tim
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:21
Seconded!
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:26
Gee thanks!
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:31
You’re welcome. Dedicate yourself, work hard, and one day you could become Major Weirdo Tim.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:31
umm no
Unavengedavo
January 22, 2014 at 10:49
Or maybe even Admiral Chief Wierdo Tim!!!
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:50
Playing with fire there
Unavengedavo
January 22, 2014 at 11:17
After the stuff I’ve seen and subjected you guys to, what’s the worst he can do? Hit me with his silly ban hammer? 😛
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 11:03
I saw that
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 11:04
Dun Dun Dunnnnnn
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:38
No problem, any time dude. 😛
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 22, 2014 at 10:21
Private Weirdo
http://www.have-you-met-ted.com/wp-content/uploads/slapsgiving-salute1.jpg
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:23
One of my favorite things in How I Met Your Mother… funny as hell
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 22, 2014 at 10:20
Even by my standards that is a weird dream.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 22, 2014 at 10:20
No. I usually have the “large ball small ball in a large room small room dream”
I dream of being in a greyish white room with a greyish white ball (You know the way untextured 3d models look like?)
Then the room and ball will both grow but without actually seeming to take up more space and the ball will start to get this strange black writing or pictures on it. I will start to feel claustrophobic and then wake up
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:21
see I am not alone in weridness!
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 22, 2014 at 10:21
Sounds a lot like my nightmare, but with more colour.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 22, 2014 at 10:23
Yeah I saw. Perhaps I am in a room in one of your dreams or one of those cubes and the cube inside has infinite space or something. We could be dreaming of the same plane of existence here… Dun dun duuuuuun
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 22, 2014 at 10:27
Weird thing is mine doesn’t seem to have a limit to the number of objects (although there’s only so much my brain can process) so it might be possible.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 22, 2014 at 10:35
And mine has no real size restriction either and doesn’t seem to have any definite size at all. It changes at will without actually changing. This is weird man
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 22, 2014 at 10:36
0_o
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:22
You need to cut back on the glue sniffing LC
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:20
I don’t think I’ve ever had a lucid dream. There’s only one dream I can still remember clearly otherwise I never remember them, and I had one nightmare about a month ago – and I only remember that one because it’s very rare. I must have a defective brain. :/
Anon A Mouse
January 22, 2014 at 10:41
I also don’t think I can dream. Research says that everyone dreams but I can’t remember squat about any dream the following morning when I wake up.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 22, 2014 at 10:56
It is apparently a mechanism that prevents your brain from confusing dreams with reality. I dunno
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 10:21
I had a hectic lucid dream this Sunday (inspired by true brain hurting events). Was awesome.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:23
How do you know you’re not sleeping right now & this is all a dream?
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 22, 2014 at 10:25
I don’t… and wouldn’t actually be all that surprised if it was.
Unavengedavo
January 22, 2014 at 10:47
Well, if your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. How do you know that you aren’t about to die and this is just that “flash”. That would also explain the De-ja-vu!
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:49
Well if that’s true & this is the best my imagination can come up with, I’d rather die 😉
Unavengedavo
January 22, 2014 at 11:12
Now the question is; if this is that flash and you reach the end and you see yourself dying, would this flash be included. Would that trigger an endless loop of flashes? Like some form of flash-ception?
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 10:23
Gingers can dream? Or is it just when they have a concussion?
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 10:24
The third one? 0-O
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:29
Well if androids can dream of electronic sheep, who knows?
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 22, 2014 at 10:21
I have a lot of wet dreams…Am I hardcore?
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:22
Hahaha
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 22, 2014 at 10:24
GAH! TMI man! TMI *cries in corner*
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 22, 2014 at 10:25
It’s natural lol Don’t deny nature
SheHulkNigri
January 22, 2014 at 10:39
As is pooping. Shall I update you every time I have a bowel movement?
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 22, 2014 at 10:41
Nothing wrong with that
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:25
Not at the end. O_o
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 10:28
BWHAHAHAHA
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 22, 2014 at 10:43
Lolz!….by the end I’m ‘casual’
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 10:28
You got issues!
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 22, 2014 at 10:41
I got issues but I’m out of tissues
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 22, 2014 at 10:26
You know. That’s true. Gamers are better at dreaming. Why just the other day I told a mate of mine I would beat his highscore and he replied: “In your dreams mate”.
Such science
very dreaming
much lucid
wow
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 10:27
lol well played.
Kromas
January 22, 2014 at 10:34
This article is mistaken. Gamers can not dream as they don’t sleep.If they sleep they might just miss out on some epic gaming time hence this article is severely inaccurate. 😛
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 22, 2014 at 10:35
Half true.
We don’t sleep for days and when we do we only sleep for a few hours.
Kromas
January 22, 2014 at 10:57
True but that is called falling into a coma.Technically not sleep. 😛
Unavengedavo
January 22, 2014 at 10:54
After reading some of the stuff you people dream about, Sigmund Freud would probably say that such a person would want to sleep with his mother. And that’s just disgusting, his mother has been dead for centuries :O
SheHulkNigri
January 22, 2014 at 10:58
Necrophiliacs prefer death?
SheHulkNigri
January 22, 2014 at 11:00
She: “I met this guy in a graveyard. Boy did he give me a good boning!”
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 22, 2014 at 11:02
I frequently have nightmares. There is some sort of danger, be it aliens, monsters, ghosts, what not. They are chasing, attacking, and they always end up with me doing the chasing and attacking. If that’s not games influence then I dunno what is 😀
However the most weird one I had was at around 3am, I felt something grab my kidney area and squeeze it. (The same area which has three scratch scars of unknown origin O_O) It felt so real.
I woke up punching that area on the bed as if something was there.
Acornbread
January 28, 2014 at 17:18
Anyone ever dreamed that they woke up and found themselves in an animus? Just me? Oh well… 🙁