Research has Discovered that Lucid Dreamers, People Who are Aware that they are Asleep when they are Dreaming.

Reading Passage Question

Research has discovered that lucid dreamers, people who are aware that they are asleep when they are dreaming, have better problem-solving abilities in the waking world than those who remain unaware of their dreams until they wake up. Studies have also shown that since lucid dreamers are aware of dreaming while dreaming, they can even play an active role in their dreams. Neuroscientists hypothesize that the reason behind these special skills of lucid dreamers could be their special brain structure.

On comparing the brain structures of frequent lucid dreamers and participants who never or only occasionally have lucid dreams, neuroscientists have found that the anterior prefrontal cortex, i.e., the brain area controlling conscious cognitive processes and playing an important role in the capability of self-reflection, is larger in lucid dreamers, suggesting a link between lucid dreaming and metacognition, which is defined as cognition about cognition or knowing about knowing. The theory has found more supporting evidence in the brain images of test subjects, which were taken while these subjects were solving metacognitive tests in their awake state. The images show that the brain activity in the prefrontal cortex was higher in lucid dreamers than in non-lucid dreamers, indicating that lucid dreamers have a higher level of insight than non-lucid dreamers.Neuroscientists say that it is this level of cognitive ability in lucid dreamers that enables them to spot incongruities within their dream, signaling their brain that they are in a dream, since the events in the dream would not make much sense otherwise, and making it possible for them to take an active part in their dreams. The same insight also transcends in to the waking world when it comes to finding solution to a problem by spotting hidden connections or inconsistencies.

“Research has discovered that lucid dreamers, people who are aware that they are asleep when they are dreaming” - is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 3 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension is designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare for the exam with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the passage?

1. To detail a study dealing with the reason behind the mentioned skills of lucid dreamers
2. To distinguish between the metacognitive skills of lucid and non-lucid dreamers
3. To describe the skills of lucid dreamers in two specific areas
4. To evaluate a study that deals with finding the reasons behind the special skills of lucid dreamers
5. To establish a link between two unrelated skills that lucid dreamers possess

2. Which of the following is supported by the analysis presented by the neuroscientists?

1. While solving a problem, non-lucid dreamers are not able to spot any connections because their metacognitive abilities are not as developed as those of the lucid dreamers.
2. Not all happenings in dreams are considered coherent with what is regarded as sensible in the awake world.
3. Because lucid dreamers are aware of their higher than average metacognition abilities, they know that they are asleep when they experience a dream.
4. The ability to find connections or inconsistencies helps the development of metacognition skills.
5. By developing self-reflection skills, non-lucid dreamers can experience lucid dreaming.

3. Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?

1. Neuroscientists think that lucid dreamers have better problem-solving abilities than non-lucid dreamers since they can take active parts in their dreams.
2. As per the neuroscientists, the metacognitive abilities of those who experience lucid dreaming once and those who never experience it are not comparable.
3. As per the neuroscientists, the higher level of insight possessed by lucid dreamers, as opposed to non-lucid dreamers, enables them to spot odd events both in dreams and reality.
4. Studies have shown that the awareness of the fact that they are asleep while experiencing a dream shows that lucid dreamers have a higher level of metacognition than non-lucid dreamers.
5. The neuroscientists found that the non-lucid dreamers did not have a high level of insight as the brain activity in their prefrontal cortex was limited.

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