The Dream Makers

Dream engineering, the manipulation of dreams to enhance learning, creativity, and well-being, is explored. Artist Will Dowd recounts using dream seeding to overcome his inability to read due to a genetic condition, finding that it provided a sense of escape and a new form of creative writing. Cognitive scientist Adam Horowitz discusses his work using technology like the Dormio device and the Dust app to incubate specific dreams and study their impact. The ethics of dream advertising are debated, with concerns raised about its potential to manipulate consumers, particularly regarding addictive substances, countered by arguments about its limited effectiveness and overlap with existing advertising practices. Additionally, the potential therapeutic benefits of anesthesia-induced dreaming for individuals with PTSD are examined through the work of Dr. Pillerin Sikka.