Psychedelics Could Transform How We Sleep—Or If We Even Need It at All, New Theory Claims

You're weightless. Colors bloom and morph, painting fractal patterns as the arrow of time torrents forward. The shapes unfurl into luminous ribbons before burning up into ash with the scent of campfire smoke, reminiscent of so many childhood summers. Lapsed memories flicker back and the universe contracts and sings in the background. The dream is real and you feel refreshed—except you're wide awake, just having a great trip.

Scientists have long noted eerie parallels between psychedelic trips and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage during which you dream. Some even suggest psychedelics could induce a "waking REM" state, unlocking the same brain processes you tap into when you drift through Morpheus' realm. Further supporting this idea, studies have shown that your brain activity during REM sleep looks almost indiscernible from your brain activity while awake.

In 2017, Dr. Rainer Kraehenmann, a clinical psychiatrist in Switzerland, conducted one of the key studies exploring the idea of waking REM states. His research found the potent hallucinogens LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) and psilocybin (the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms) generate dream-like mental imagery, emotional processing, and a loosened sense of self—drawing comparisons to lucid dreaming, a state of awareness while inside a dream.

View in Browser  SHOP EXCLUSIVE SUBSCRIBE Psychedelics Could Transform How We Sleep—Or If We Even Need It at All, New Theory Claims Psychedelics Could Transform How We Sleep—Or If We Even Need It at All, New Theory Claims You're weightless. Colors bloom and morph, painting fractal patterns as the arrow of time torrents forward. The shapes unfurl into luminous ribbons before burning up into ash with the scent of campfire smoke, reminiscent of so many childhood summers. Lapsed memories flicker back and the universe contracts and sings in the background. The dream is real and you feel refreshed—except you're wide awake, just having a great trip. Scientists have long noted eerie parallels between psychedelic trips and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage during which you dream. Some even suggest psychedelics could induce a "waking REM" state, unlocking the same brain processes you tap into when you drift through Morpheus' realm. Further supporting this idea, studies have shown that your brain activity during REM sleep looks almost indiscernible from your brain activity while awake. In 2017, Dr. Rainer Kraehenmann, a clinical psychiatrist in Switzerland, conducted one of the key studies exploring the idea of waking REM states. His research found the potent hallucinogens LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) and psilocybin (the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms) generate dream-like mental imagery, emotional processing, and a loosened sense of self—drawing comparisons to lucid dreaming, a state of awareness while inside a dream. You're weightless. Colors bloom and morph, painting fractal patterns as the arrow of time torrents forward. The shapes unfurl into luminous ribbons before burning up into ash with the scent of campfire smoke, reminiscent of so many childhood summers. Lapsed memories flicker back and the universe contracts and sings in the background. The dream is real and you feel refreshed—except you're wide awake, just having a great trip. Scientists have long noted eerie parallels between psychedelic trips and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage during which you dream. Some even suggest psychedelics could induce a "waking REM" state, unlocking the same brain processes you tap into when you drift through Morpheus' realm. Further supporting this idea, studies have shown that your brain activity during REM sleep looks almost indiscernible from your brain activity while awake. In 2017, Dr. Rainer Kraehenmann, a clinical psychiatrist in Switzerland, conducted one of the key studies exploring the idea of waking REM states. His research found the potent hallucinogens LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) and psilocybin (the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms) generate dream-like mental imagery, emotional processing, and a loosened sense of self—drawing comparisons to lucid dreaming, a state of awareness while inside a dream. Read More Read More A Construction Worker Accidentally Found a Secret Stash of 700-Year-Old Coins It was enough to buy 150 sheep back then. Read More We've Been Hunting For Aliens All Wrong. The Secret to Revealing Them May Be in Gravity, Says Scientist Here's how we might potentially detect technological signals from extraterrestrial civilizations. Read More The Universe May Be on the Verge of Collapse—And That Would Mutate the Laws of Physics, Scientists Say If this scenario plays out, "the world as we know it would collapse like a house of cards," says one theoretical physicist. Read More The Camping Gear Our Editors Recommend for Your Next Weekend in the Wilderness A successful camping trip starts with packing the right gear to help you brave the elements. Read More Save 20% Off Sunday Lawn Care Kits and Get Your Yard Into Shape From weed elimination to pest control, your weekend backyard project just got so much easier. Read More Need Assistance? Contact Us. Follow Us Unsubscribe | Privacy Notice | CA Notice at Collection Popular Mechanics is a publication of Hearst Magazines. ©2025 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This email was sent by Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019-3779