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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
How to lucid dream
As someone whose dreams have always been faintly incoherent expressions of my underlying anxiety, I’ve long been intrigued by the idea of lucid dreaming: to be aware that you’re dreaming while in a dream, and to be able to control its narrative. Roughly half of us have had this experience at least once, but those who have it regularly can end up becoming flag-waving enthusiasts. One of those people is Eric Wollberg, CEO of Prophetic, a company developing a wearable that uses ultrasound to stimulate the prefrontal cortex during sleep to induce lucidity. “Some people have a natural proclivity for it, but everyone experiences REM, everyone has a prefrontal cortex,” he says. “So even if you’ve never had a lucid dream, you are capable of it.”
The wide-eyed fervour of lucid dreamers can be seen on Reddit, where the r/LucidDreaming community has more than half a million members, earnestly exchanging tips on achieving vivid lucid states. “It’s the most metaphysically potent experience I’ve had,” says Wollberg. Prophetic’s belief is that the ultrasound techniques that are used for neuromodulation in the world of medicine (to treat addiction and Alzheimer’s, among other things) also have a consumer application.
Halo, a headband designed in collaboration with Card79 (which also designed the Neuralink N1 device) contains four channels of EEG (to measure brain activity) and two transducers sending out ultrasound, in patterns that have been derived from neuroimaging data obtained from lucid dreamers. The idea is that you pair it with an app, put it on and go to sleep. When the device detects that you’re entering REM, the ultrasound kicks in, inducing and maintaining the dream.
I usually try out every item featured in Technopolis. Halo, however, is still in early development. Wollberg is bullish; investors appear to have faith. Potential customers certainly believe: you can pay a $100 deposit to reserve your Halo, and Wollberg says they’ve banked $2.7mn of (refundable) deposits through that programme. Trippy experiences have always had great appeal. Having a tailored one while tucked up in bed is clearly no exception. propheticai.co
Nighty light
Turning the lights on, and off, and on again, and off again, is a regular part of the bedtime routine for me and my toddler son (who just turned two). These cute rechargeable night lights (pick from dinosaur, cat, cloud, duck, star or unicorn) have brought a little more focus to evening proceedings as we are able to give them a name (we have the star) and choose their hue (tap once to fade through a sequence of colours, tap again to hold that particular colour). So, “happy blue star” it is! It can be set to stay on all night, or you can set it to switch off automatically after 30 or 60 minutes. Not a sophisticated piece of gear, but hey, it doesn’t need to be. Groov-e Cuties, £17.99 each
Meditate in your direction
Over the past decade, Headspace has introduced millions of people to the restorative powers of quiet contemplation, and given the world a better understanding of meditation and mindfulness. A move into virtual reality is not something I would have seen coming, but this app for Meta Quest is delightfully executed.
While guided meditation generally involves keeping your eyes closed while trying to empty your mind, this presents you with a virtual playground through which you move, interacting with objects, while gently being reminded to breathe slowly and “go with the flow”. Time flies by, anxiety dissipates – the only downside is the jarring sensation when real life comes knocking… Headspace XR, £22.99
Calm your thoughts
In 1981, a neurobiologist named Dr Daniel L Kirsch invented the Alpha-Stim, a cranial electrotherapy device that he believed had applications in treating insomnia and anxiety. (Back then it weighed 40lbs, today it’s lighter than a smartphone.) Trials over the years have established that it’s safe, and significant numbers of people reported improvements after using it. You slip the sensors onto each earlobe, choose the length and intensity of your session, and that’s that. Too high a setting can prompt dizziness, but once you’ve dialled it down it feels comfortable. I can’t say it banished unhelpful thoughts in the few days I used it, but the manufacturers recommend a four-week run-in. Alpha-Stim, £599
Sailing away (and back)
The shrill alarm clock of yesteryear has largely been replaced by the shrill smartphone alarm (“Arpeggio” on the iPhone is particularly brutal). Hatch, however, reckons there’s still a role for the bedside clock, and judging by the wave of enthusiasm across social media for this device, it’s not wrong. It is contained within a discreet, cloth-fronted case, through which the time gently glows when you tap it. In conjunction with an app, you set up sounds for sleep (crackling fire, gentle rain etc) and waking (Ocean Shore is very pleasant, Meditative Flute less so). A gentle glow in the colour of your choice begins 30 minutes before the alarm, simulating a sunrise. A monthly subscription gives you more sonic options. Hatch Restore 2, $199.99
@rhodri
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