Intelligence Squared The science of dreams: why do we dream, and can we learn to control them? With Dr Michelle Carr
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Aug 31, 2025 Dr. Michelle Carr, Director of the Dream Engineering Laboratory at the University of Montreal, dives deep into the fascinating world of dreams. She discusses why we dream and the impact of nightmares on our mental health. Listeners learn about lucid dreaming techniques and the innovative practice of dream engineering, which manipulates dream content using sensory stimuli. Carr explores the ethical implications of dream manipulation and highlights how understanding dreams can enhance emotional well-being and recovery from psychological issues.
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How She Became A Dream Scientist
- Michelle Carr first encountered dream science working in a sleep neurophysiology lab as a college student and had her first lucid dream there.
- Experiencing vivid dreams and studying them motivated her to pursue a graduate degree focused on dreaming.
Dreaming Is Far More Active Than We Think
- People vastly underestimate how much dreaming and conscious experience occur during sleep.
- Lab awakenings reveal frequent, emotion-rich dream activity that normal recall misses.
Dreams Aid Emotion And Memory Processing
- Dreams help process emotions and integrate memories from waking life.
- Dreaming likely supports emotional regulation and memory consolidation overnight.
