While you were sleeping: science, sleep and dreams

Join us for an eye opening discussion into the science of sleep and dreams..

What happens to our brain and body when we sleep - what's it all for? Is "beauty sleep" real or just imaginary like our dreams? How much sleep do we need? What is the real danger of sleep loss? Is modern society sleep deprived? Is dreaming that important, and who has the greater fantasies - the dreamer or the dream interpreter? The acid test of insufficient sleep is excessive daytime sleepiness, but many insomniacs don't complain of this - why? These are some of the questions that Jim Horne will attempt to cover in his illustrated talk on a subject that still fascinates him.

Although we can’t deny the importance of sleep - what can science tell us about dreaming? We already know that dreams are more frequently recalled from Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, a type of sleep in which the brain is as active as when awake. Mark Blagrove will describe the effects of waking life on dream content, the relationships between personality and dream recall, and what the differences are between dreams in REM sleep and dreams from the other stages of sleep. There is some evidence that REM sleep is involved in the formation of memories, Mark will also address whether the dreams that accompany REM sleep also have a function and how dreaming and nightmares are currently investigated scientifically.

Join Dr Mark Blagrove (University of Wales, Swansea) and Prof Jim Horne (Director of the Sleep Research Centre, Loughborough University) for this eye opening discussion!

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