Inception becomes reality: People can teach themselves new skills in dreams - 22nd Dec 2011

The idea of the surreal Hollywood blockbuster Inception, where people travel through someone's dreams to 'plant' an idea in his head may not be so out-there after all.

Researchers at Yale have found that 'lucid dreamers' - dreamers who have 'waking dreams' that they control - are able to learn new skills in their dreams.

A team is now experimenting with the idea of 'training' people by telling them what to dream about.

People who can control their dreams can use the unusual ability to experience a sense of euphoria, as if they have accomplished something.

But new research hints that people can actually 'use' dreaming as a tool to learn.

Being in command of dreams opens up opportunities to manipulate them for learning and training - although it may not be quite as precise as learning to play the violin while asleep.

Instead, 'lucid dreamers' can control areas of their brain to open up and 'learn' while they sleep. What's more, it seems that merely being a lucid dreamer seems to give you an advantage. Read More