Readers across Lambton County will have an opportunity to explore the science of dreams this week during a virtual author event featuring sleep researcher Dr. Michelle Carr.
Hosted by Lambton County Library, the online discussion will take place Wednesday, March 11 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and will focus on Carr’s research into dreams, nightmares, and the emerging scientific field described as “dream engineering.”
Carr is the director of the Dream Engineering Laboratory at the Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine in Montreal and an assistant professor at the Université de Montréal. Her work examines how the brain behaves during sleep and how dream experiences can influence both mental and physical health.
The talk is centred on her 2025 book Nightmare Obscura: A Dream Engineer’s Guide Through the Sleeping Mind, which explores why humans dream, what causes recurring nightmares, and how the sleeping brain interacts with the body. Carr’s research looks at ways those processes might be better understood — and potentially used to improve sleep quality and overall wellbeing.
Dreams remain one of the most mysterious aspects of human biology. For many people they disappear quickly upon waking, leaving only fragments of images or emotions. While dreams can be pleasant or surreal, they can also involve distressing or recurring nightmares that disrupt sleep and affect daily life.
Carr’s work focuses on understanding those experiences through neuroscience and sleep research. In recent years, scientists studying dreaming have begun exploring techniques that may allow people to influence their dream states, including lucid dreaming and methods aimed at reducing nightmares.
During the presentation, Carr will discuss the current science behind dreaming and what researchers are learning about the sleeping brain. Topics will include why some people experience more vivid dreams or nightmares than others, how dreams are connected to emotional processing, and how sleep research may lead to new ways of improving mental health.
In addition to her academic work, Carr has written extensively for both scientific and public audiences. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and she has contributed articles to publications including Scientific American, New Scientist, and Aeon. She also writes a blog on sleep and dreaming for Psychology Today.
The virtual event is part of an ongoing series of author conversations hosted through Lambton County Library. Participation is free, though registration is required.
