I was thinking about lucid dreaming and I came up with an idea; it is based on Pavlov's experiments with salivation in dogs, and the resulting concept of classical conditioning.

Pavlov on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Pavlov

The specific concept I am talking about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_conditioning

You guys already utilise this concept when you do a reality check every time you see your specific dreamsign in waking reality.

So, onto the idea.....

I realise that REM sleep, when dreams generally occur, are always accompanied by eye movement (Rapid Eye Movement)
In light of this, it may be possible to heighten awareness or induce lucidity automatically as soon as the eyes begin to move. One could do this by creating an association between eye movement and reality checking or the awareness of ones external environment, or that one is dreaming (on the basis of the Pavlovian concept of classical conditioning).

How can one approach this concept?
Practise reality checking for a few minutes each day, while closing ones eyes and making random movements with them.

Alternatively, a more difficult approach would be to learn to recall the phrase, "I'm dreaming", every time your eyes move substantially during normal daytime activity, or at least a few times, at fixed intervals.


I am not sure if this idea is credible, or if it has been thought of, but it is interesting. I would appreciate some feedback.