Seed Talks: The Science of Dreams

Join us while we take a closer look at what happens to the brain while we sleep + the meaning behind our dreams. Followed by Q+A.

GLASGOW – FEB 2024

Have you ever wondered why we dream? And do they mean anything? In this fascinating talk with Professor of Sleep Science Dr Jason Ellis, you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about dreams, and a little bit more. By exploring how and why humans sleep, we will begin to see where dreams fit into our nightly rhythms and why we remember them, or indeed, why it could be good to forget them.

While their true purpose is still hotly debated, we will examine the evidence for and against current theories of dreaming. Uncover the science behind the affective cycle of dreams and how they can give us an insight into our own mental health. We will also look at how dreaming changes over a period of stress, providing us a barometer of how we are managing. Finally, drawing on the latest research, we will consider the science and practice of lucid dreaming – can we really control our dreams?

Dr Ellis is a Professor of Sleep Science and Director of the Northumbria Centre for Sleep Research in the United Kingdom. He is a qualified Somnologist – Expert in Behavioural Sleep Medicine from the European Sleep Research Society and a Practising Psychologist under the HCPC. He splits his time between his basic research interests: the pathophysiology of sleep disorders (Insomnia, Restless Legs Syndrome, and Circadian Rhythm Disorders) and his applied work on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Within the latter framework he examines the impact of novel adjunct therapies, the

influence of social factors on adherence, and the effective delivery of CBT-I in complex cases and environments. He has worked within the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, delivering CBT-I to individuals with a range of physical and psychological conditions and serves on the editorial boards of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Frontiers in Sleep and Sleep Health. He is also the current chair of the research committee for the British Sleep Society. He has consulted for various industries and third-sector organisations and provided national guidelines to the British and Scottish governments on the identification and management of sleep problems. He is a serious advocate of public engagement and professional education with regard to behavioural sleep medicine and regularly trains CBT-I and fatigue management workshops to clinicians and primary care physicians in the United Kingdom and internationally.