In our introductory lecture, Dr. Baland Jalal begins our study of sleep and dreams by outlining the sequential stages of sleep and their distinct characteristics, from Stage 1 drowsiness to deep sleep and REM. He explores the neurological processes at each stage, including brain wave patterns and neurotransmitter activity, and highlights the vital roles of deep sleep and REM in memory consolidation, creativity, and physical restoration. The lecture concludes with a look at how sleep patterns evolve across the lifespan and the potentially fatal consequences of severe sleep deprivation.

In lecture two, we learn how sleep evolves with age, the impact of caffeine, and the restorative power of naps. We delve into the neuroscience of REM sleep and dreaming, examining how brain regions activate and deactivate to create vivid dream experiences. The lecture also covers leading theories on why we dream—such as emotional processing and threat simulation—highlighting how dreams may help us regulate emotions and confront challenges we avoid while awake.

In lecture three, we study various sleep disorders including narcolepsy, REM behavior disorder, and sleepwalking, beginning with an examination of why we forget 95% of our dreams. We delve into narcolepsy as a condition causing sudden sleep episodes and cataplexy, while REM behavior disorder represents the opposite problem, where neurons responsible for paralysis fail. Dr. Jalal concludes by addressing parasomnia disorders such as exploding head syndrome and sleep-related eating disorder, highlighting how emotional brain activity can interfere with normal sleep patterns.