A drug’s weird side effect lets people control their dreams

A woman sleeping

An Alzheimer’s treatment boosts lucid dreaming

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Have you ever wanted to fly? A drug that helps people control their dreams could let you try it from the comfort of your own bed.

A small number of people naturally have lucid dreams, meaning they can recognise when they’re dreaming and steer the storyline they experience. Some others can learn to induce them using cognitive techniques.

The practice is most commonly used to pursue fantasies like flying, but it may also help to overcome fears and nightmares, says Benjamin Baird at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. …