WHEN an ancient Egyptian sought an encounter with Bes, the god of fertility and childbirth, they would draw an image of the deity on their hand, wrap that hand and their neck with black cloth, and then settle down to sleep. This practice, described in a papyrus that dates to around 1350 BC, is theof the use of sensory stimulation to try to influence the content of a dream.
Three thousand years on, neuroscientists and psychologists are turning this ancient idea into something more scientific. Overturning long-held preconceptions about the disconnect between our brains and bodies during sleep, these “dream engineers” are using sounds, smells, touch and even bodily movements to influence the content of people’s dreams. In doing so, they have achieved striking benefits, from improving sleep quality and mood to boosting learning and creativity.
at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “It could also become an advertising gimmick. We have to proceed with caring and watchful eyes.”Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with