ABSTRACT
In prior research the author focused on stimulation of the semicircular canal component of vestibular functioning and found a relationship between the frequency with which young adults spontaneously experience lucid dreaming and their responsiveness to caloric irrigation. In order to more fully explore the relationship between vestibular functioning and lucidity, the authors have compared the otolithic responsiveness of persons who differ in lucid dreaming frequency. In order to explain rationale for studying balance performance in relation to lucid dreaming frequency, this chapter provides a brief overview of vestibular neuropsychology. It aims to determine if differences between lucid and non-lucid dreamers could be demonstrated with tasks involving stimulation of the otolithic receptors. Factor analytic studies and low correlations between measures of static and dynamic balance indicate that performance on these two types of balance tasks is achieved by different means.
