The future of dream science

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2017 Oct;1406(1):68-70. doi: 10.1111/nyas.13415. Epub 2017 Jun 19.

Abstract

This article describes the future prospects of scientific dream research. Three frontiers of investigation hold special promise: neuroscientific studies of the brain-mind system's activities during sleep (such as during lucid dreaming); systematic analyses of large collections of dream reports from diverse populations of people; and psychotherapeutic explorations of the multiple dimensions of personal and collective meaning woven into the dream experiences of each individual. Several helpful books on the science of sleep and dreaming are mentioned for further study.

Keywords: REM sleep; dream analysis; dream science; dreaming; lucid dreaming.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Awareness / physiology
  • Biomedical Research / trends*
  • Dreams / physiology*
  • Dreams / psychology*
  • Forecasting
  • Humans
  • Psychotherapy / trends
  • Sleep, REM / physiology*