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Review
. 2020 Aug:83:102955.
doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2020.102955. Epub 2020 Jul 8.

Dream engineering: Simulating worlds through sensory stimulation

Michelle Carr  1 , Adam Haar  2 , Judith Amores  2 , Pedro Lopes  3 , Guillermo Bernal  2 , Tomás Vega  2 , Oscar Rosello  2 , Abhinandan Jain  2 , Pattie Maes  2
Affiliations
Review

Dream engineering: Simulating worlds through sensory stimulation

Michelle Carr et al. Conscious Cogn. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

We explore the application of a wide range of sensory stimulation technologies to the area of sleep and dream engineering. We begin by emphasizing the causal role of the body in dream generation, and describe a circuitry between the sleeping body and the dreaming mind. We suggest that nearly any sensory stimuli has potential for modulating experience in sleep. Considering other areas that might afford tools for engineering sensory content in simulated worlds, we turn to Virtual Reality (VR). We outline a collection of relevant VR technologies, including devices engineered to stimulate haptic, temperature, vestibular, olfactory, and auditory sensations. We believe these technologies, which have been developed for high mobility and low cost, can be translated to the field of dream engineering. We close by discussing possible future directions in this field and the ethics of a world in which targeted dream direction and sleep manipulation are feasible.

Keywords: Dreaming; Haptic devices; Human Computer interaction; Simulation; Sleep; Virtual reality.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Electrodes attached behind the ear are used to transmit a small electrical current to the vestibular system, providing proprioceptive information to the user.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
(top) Traditional PSG and olfactometers used for sleep studies. (bottom) The Essence prototype can be worn during the day and clipped to a flexible holder at night. The scent parameters and position can be adjusted to the user’s or experimenter’s preferences.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
The Dormio, design led by Tomás Vega, and handworn system, collaboration with Oscar Rosello, dorsal side. Photo credit Oscar Rosello.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
(top) The Fascia device, a smart sleep mask that collects EEG, EOG, EMG, heart rate, head movement and skin temperature. (bottom) The user’s real-time expression and emotion are mapped into the user’s VR avatar.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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