Lucid dreaming captures my interest on the topics of dreams and consciousness. I have personally never been able to experience this phenomena, so are people born with this ability? Is it an ability? Do genetics cause this? Can anyone experience this or are there various attributes that coincide with it? What captivates me most of all is that this is such a hard topic to study. It can't be observed and it cannot really be tested. Scientists have to rely on people's accounts and there is no way to determine if what they dreamt really happened or if they just put fragments together. In the article provided below Rebecca talks about how people feel tired after they experience lucid dreaming. She explains that there could be alternative factors causing this to happen. This is an example of ruling out rival hypotheses.
http://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/are-lucid-dreams-tiring.html
Are people conscious during these lucid dreams? Rebecca "theorizes that perma-lucid dreamers may even maintain more brainwave activity when they should be in deep sleep." This can be tested, but would it answer this question? If someone is conscious and could possibly generate more brainwaves than they should during sleep then it would seem logical that they would be more tired because their brain is not resting, as it should. However, many tests would need to given and replicated to come closer to an answer.
Lucid dreaming can help to divert the outcome of a nightmare, but are there really any other benefits to it? Some scientists, according to the textbook, that hypothesize that this can help to overcome depression or anxiety, but there is no valid evidence.
Lucid Dreaming
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Have you been able to find any other scientific studies that speak to possible benefits of lucid dreaming? I like your skepticism here; the Rebecca in the article has not conducted empirical evidence and it seems mostly to be conjecture or anecdotal in nature. If might be nice to find some answers to your questions by seeking out more scientific evidence on the subject.
I often experience a borderline state between sleeping and being awake, and whatever I perceive during those times in this state of mine is so lucid that I can vouch it is REAL. But then, it certainly is a dream too. And it is scary. But side by side, it has a great attraction that keeps my awareness stuck to it compulsively. Also, I am sure that it is not tiring at all, it rather refreshes me ultimately.
The best thing is that my body 'KNOWS' how to enter this lucid dreaming state at will!