Do Video Games Influence Dream Flying Experiences in the Younger Generation?

[berkeman]

I haven't played many video games beyond the early Pong games in undergrad and some Flight Simulators after I graduated. But my kids and grandkids are definitely part of the video game generation, and after watching some of those games and some advertisements today on TV that had the players jumping and flying through their challenges, I'm wondering if young folks who are so into these video games also find themselves flying in their dreams more than folks from my generation do.

I feel lucky that I've experienced flying in my dreams for many years. I think it started mostly because I'm a scuba/skin diver, and have always felt like I'm flying when under water. That manifested in my dreams like flying as if I had "anti-gravity fins" on my feet and hands, which let me smoothly gain flight at times.

But with so many young folks playing video games with non-physical movements/motions of the players, I wondered if that might lead to more of them enjoying flying in their dreams. I'll ask our kids and grandkids about it when I get a chance, but in the mean time I did some Google searching and surprisingly found some good hits right away...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32674062/

https://www.livescience.com/6521-video-gamers-control-dreams-study-suggests.html

 

[Bystander]

"Control?" Wasn't much older than 10-12 when I started "putting pillows" in impact areas of "falling" dreams, rolling to face the wall in fighting dreams, don't recall the last time I had "flying" dreams, but still return on regular basis to "the Nam" in "real time" on my nth tour, no control.

 

[berkeman]

but still return on regular basis to "the Nam" in "real time" on my nth tour,

Thank you for your service sir.

 

[Bystander]

Thank you for your service sir.

You are quite welcome.