The Paradox of Sleep by Michel Jouvet (9780262600408)

Description - The Paradox of Sleep by Michel Jouvet

This work takes the reader on a scientific and sociological tour of the history of sleep and dream research, concluding with the author's own ideas on the function of dreaming. Michel Jouvet tells the story of a handful of neurobiologists, including himself, who pioneered sleep and dream research in the 1950s. He describes the technical and ideological obstacles they faced and opens his own laboratory to the reader, explaining anatomical, biochemical and even genetic techniques. He also touches on psychological, philosophical and metaphysical aspects of sleep and dreaming. A key section of the book is Jouvet's discussion of why we dream. After summarizing Freud's theory of dreams, he contrasts it with late-1990s neurobiological data. Finally, he outlines his own theory about why we dream: to preserve our individuality. Dreaming, claims Jouvet, is necessary for the genetic reprogramming of the brain.

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