Sleep Junkies

Imagine if corporations could place adverts for their products inside your dreams. It may sound like far-fetched science fiction, but amazingly, science and technology has reached the point where this possibility may be around the corner.

Earlier this year, the beer company Molson-Coors tried an experiment based on cutting edge research known as 'targeted dream activation'. Amazingly participants reported dreaming more of Coors beer after consuming audio and video content specifically designed to 'induce' images of beer into the participant's dreams.

Concerned about the possibilities of dreams becoming the playground for unscrupulous marketers, or even as a means of societal manipulation, a group of sleep and dream researchers recently published an open letter, describing the ethical issues at stake, if we longer have sovereign control of our own dreams.

This episode’s guest:

Dr Sara C. Mednick is Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of California, Irvine and author of the book, Take a Nap! Change your life. . She is passionate about understanding how the brain works through her research into sleep and cognition. Dr. Mednick’s seven-bedroom sleep lab at UCI works literally around-the-clock to discover methods for boosting cognition through a range of different interventions including napping, brain stimulation with electricity, sound and light, as well as pharmacological interventions. Her research findings have been published in such leading scientific journals as Nature Neuroscience and The Proceedings from the National Academy of Science, and covered by all major media outlets. She received a PhD in Psychology from Harvard University, and then completed a postdoc at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and UC San Diego.

Links

Website: http://www.saramednick.com/

Sleep and Cognition Lab:  http://sleepandcognitionlab.org/

University California Irvine: https://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=6491

Research Gate https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sara-Mednick

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sara_Mednick

Other resources:

MIT Dream Engineering group: https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/theme-engineering-dreams/overview/

Coors beer promotion: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jul/05/advertisers-targeted-dream-incubation

Open letter: https://dxe.pubpub.org/pub/dreamadvertising/release/1

Google Nest 2: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56416578

Amazon sleep tracker: https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/amazon-gets-waiver-from-fcc-to-monitor-sleep-with-a-radar-sensor/

Episode Homepage: http://sleepjunkies.com/dreams-and-advertising/

Despite our millennia-old fascination with dreams, their meaning, and their roles in our lives, it wasn't up until the late 20th century that scientists really began to make big leaps into investigating the possible biological functions of dreams.

But despite a now vibrant and eclectic body of research and evidence of scientific theories of dreaming, their relationship to memory, cognition and our emotional lives, up until now we've failed to come up with an overarching framework, a 'big idea' to describe the biological function of our dream lives.

In a new book, When Brains Dream, two world authorities in the science of sleep and dreams make a bold leap into proposing a new theory - NEXTUP,  Network Exploration to Understand Possibilities - which elegantly encompasses a vast swathe of previously gathered evidence in dream research, but also emphasises the vital importance of narratives, the subjective experience of dreaming, and the offline processing of weak memory associations.

 

This episode’s guests:

Robert Stickgold is a professor at Harvard Medical School and director of the Center for Sleep and Cognition. 

Harvard: http://brain.harvard.edu/?people=robert-stickgold

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Stickgold

 

Antonio Zadra is a professor at the Université de Montréal and a researcher at the Center for Advanced Research in Sleep

Website: https://antoniozadra.com/

University of Montreal: http://www.ceams-carsm.ca/chercheurs/zadra

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrZdreams

History of dreaming: http://sleepjunkies.com/the-science-of-dreams-and-dreaming-a-brief-history/

Episode Homepage: http://sleepjunkies.com/a-unified-theory-of-dreaming/

In the second part of our deep dive into sleep supplements we take a look at the overlapping subjects of nutrition, delivery methods, dosages, a run-down of the different categories of sleep supplements including plant-derived substances, vitamins, amino acids and more. Plus we look into the future towards the prospect of a new era of 'nutritional sleep medicine.'

You can listen to Part 1 here: https://sleepjunkies.com/sleep-supplements-part-1/

This episode’s guest:

Jesse Cook is a 4th year Clinical Psychology graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the active Sleep Research Society Trainee Member At-Large. Jesse completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona, where he established an initial passion and skillset for Sleep Research through his time as a research assistant in Dr. Richard Bootzin's Sleep Research Laboratory.

Jesse’s research primarily focus on the assessment and treatment of persons with unexplained excessive daytime sleepiness. Additionally, he has published multiple papers evaluating the utility and ability of wearable consumer technologies as a sleep assessor, relative to PSG. You can reach Jesse by email at [email protected]

Resources:

Jesse Cook Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jesse_Cook3

Jesse on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SleepAndSports

Episode Homepage: http://sleepjunkies.com/sleep-supplements-part-2

Dietary Sources of Melatonin: https://res.mdpi.com/nutrients/nutrients-09-00367/article_deploy/nutrients-09-00367-v2.pdf

When we're seeking solutions to health problems we generally look to doctors and scientists for the best advice. But what happens when the experts don't actually have all the answers?

This is often the case when we talk about sleep supplements. This rapidly growing market comprises a dizzying array of off-the-shelf products blending plant extracts, micronutrients, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, all of which purport to be able to help alleviate sleep problems in one way or the other.

The problems stem from the fact that whilst there exists a modest body of scientific literature showing potential efficacy for solving some sleep issues,  the sleep supplement industry - devoid of regulatory restrictions -  is forging ahead to satisfy the enormous demand for novel, non-pharmaceutical based sleep solutions.

We take a deep dive into these murky waters, exploring many of the lesser-discussed issues including the marketing of products, the distinctions between medical, anxiety and lifestyle-based sleep problems, the dichotomy of 'pill's vs 'behaviour change', the overlap of diet and nutrition, and also examining the exciting future potential of a new era of 'nutritional sleep medicine'.

This episode’s guest:

Jesse Cook is a 4th year Clinical Psychology graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the active Sleep Research Society Trainee Member At-Large. Jesse completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona, where he established an initial passion and skillset for Sleep Research through his time as a research assistant in Dr. Richard Bootzin's Sleep Research Laboratory.

Jesse’s research primarily focus on the assessment and treatment of persons with unexplained excessive daytime sleepiness. Additionally, he has published multiple papers evaluating the utility and ability of wearable consumer technologies as a sleep assessor, relative to PSG. You can reach Jesse by email at [email protected]

Resources:

Jesse Cook Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jesse_Cook3

Jesse on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SleepAndSportsv

Episode Homepage: http://sleepjunkies.com/sleep-supplements-part-1/

In today's episode we discuss all things pregnancy and baby sleep with physician, host of the award-winning Savvy Psychologist and new mum Dr Jade Wu.

This episode's guest:

Jade Wu, PhD, DBSM, is a Board-certified sleep psychologist and researcher at Duke University School of Medicine. She earned her PhD from Boston University and completed her clinical training at Duke. Her current research focuses on treating sleep disorders in those with chronic illness. In the clinic, her approach is grounded in both science and compassion.

Website: https://www.jadewuphd.com/

Savvy Psychologist Podcast: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jadewuphd

Episode Homepage: http://sleepjunkies.com/pregnancy-baby-sleep/

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A special documentary to celebrate our 50th episode. Featuring multiple guests, archive material, original music and plenty of intrigue, follow the labyrinthine narrative of Daylight Saving Time, the new science of chronobiology, and the clandestine monied interests pushing to extend daylight hours into the evening.

Guests in order of appearance

Barry Mitzman - http://www.barrymitzman.com/

Kimberly Honn, PhD - https://medicine.wsu.edu/overview/faculty-and-staff/kimberly-honn-ph-d/

Jay Pea - https://savestandardtime.com/

Dr Michael Grandner - https://www.michaelgrandner.com/about.html

Emily Manoogian, PhD - https://panda.salk.edu/people/

Christine Blume, PhD - https://www.christine-blume.com/

Archive Material

The Reasoning Behind Changing Daylight-Saving - NPR interview with Melissa Block and Michael Downing

Daylight Saving Time - How Is This Still A Thing? - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) - Youtube

Screen time and sleep - it's not just about the blue light - Sleep Junkies Podcast

Daylight Saving Time, Grandpa Jones; Louis M. Jones - Internet Archive 

Additional Credits

Consultancy and good vibrations - Jim Carey, Inventive Audio

Original music and sound design - Dark Trash

Episode url: http://sleepjunkies.com/standard-time-documentary/

Only a few years ago, the phrase consumer sleep technology was synonymous with sleep trackers, devices that monitor your nocturnal behaviours to give you insights into the mysteries of your non-waking hours.

Fast forward to 2021, where we're in the middle of an innovation explosion of all type of gadgets, wearables, apps, smart home technologies which not only track, but also actively attempt to promote better sleep.

In today's episode we talk to friend of the podcast, Dr Michael Grandner about this important distinction between sleep technology that measures, and tech that intervenes in our sleep.

Plus we explore some of the latest science-backed sleep devices that utilise light, sound, temperature and other esoteric techniques with strange acronyms like PEMF, TDCS, all in the mission to improve our sleep.

Dr Grandner helps us to understand where the science is at with all of the latest sleep-tech trends, including digital sleep coaching, Sp02 monitoring, light therapy wearables, bed cooling tech,  and more.

This episode's guest:

Dr. Michael Grandner is the Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic at the Banner-University Medical Center, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the UA College of Medicine, with joint appointments in the Departments of Medicine, Psychology (UA College of Science), Nutritional Sciences (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences), and Clinical Translational Science. In addition, he is a faculty member of the Neuroscience and Physiological Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs. He is Certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine by the American Board of Sleep Medicine and is a Diplomate in Behavioral Sleep Medicine by the Board of Behavioral Sleep Medicine.

Website: http://www.michaelgrandner.com/

University of Arizona: https://www.sleephealthresearch.com/team.html

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grandner/

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michael_Grandner

Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelgrandner

Episode Homepage: http://sleepjunkies.com/measurement-intervention-sleep-tech/

More Resources:

Guide to light therapy wearables - https://sleepgadgets.io/best-light-therapy-glasses-wearables/

PEMF and sleep - https://sleepgadgets.io/interview-welltiss-mind-pemf-device/

Matthew Walker on tDCS

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What role do history, culture and economics play on our normative conceptions of sleep? How has modern American life shaped the way we define the norms of 'healthy sleep'? Join us for a wide-ranging, thought-provoking discussion with Matthew Wolf-Meyer about his research and book, The Slumbering Masses: Sleep, Medicine and Modern American Life.

This episode's guest:

Matthew Wolf-Meyer PhD is Associate Professor of Anthropology at Binghamton University. His work focuses on medicine, science, and media in the United States, and draws on history, contemporary experiences, and popular representations of health and illness.work focuses on how medicine, science and media in the U.S. make sense of major modern-era shifts in the expert practices of science, medicine and popular representations of health. His first book, "The Slumbering Masses," offers insights into the complex lived realities of disorderly sleepers, the long history of sleep science and the global impacts of the exportation of American sleep.

Website: https://matthewwolfmeyer.com/

Binghamton University: https://www.binghamton.edu/anthropology/faculty/profile.html?id=mwolfmey

Twitter: https://twitter.com/m_wolf_meyer

Episode Homepage: http://sleepjunkies.com/slumbering-masses/

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Pretty much every week, we get an email from a new cannabis startup, promoting their latest CBD or THC remedy to treat any number of health conditions, including sleep problems.

This boom in new, legal cannabis products is the result of recent legislation to start the process of widespread marijuana decriminalisation, and eventually full legalisation. But whilst the consumer demand is fuelling massive growth in the global cannabis industry, currently, there's little, verging on zero clinical evidence to firmly substantiate many of the health claims made by the new wave of cannabis products hitting the market.

So in this episode, we go behind the marketing claims, and look at the real, solid, scientific evidence behind medical cannabis and its efficacy in treating insomnia and a whole host of other sleep disorders including sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and even narcolepsy.

This episode's guest:

 

Anastasia Suraev is a clinical research officer at the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, a philanthropically-funded centre for cannabinoid research at the University of Sydney. She is also a PhD candidate at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research where she is leading a clinical trial assessing the effects of a cannabis-based therapy on sleep in people with chronic insomnia.

University of Sydney: https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/about/our-people/academic-staff/anastasia-suraev.html

Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics: https://www.sydney.edu.au/lambert/:

Systematic Review: Cannabinoid therapies in the management of sleep disorders: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies

Episode Homepage: http://sleepjunkies.com/cannabis-sleep-medicine/

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Technology and sleep have a troubled relationship. On one hand, doctors and therapists remind their patients to banish every gadget and gizmo from the bedroom, lest they act as addictive, irresistible slumber-stealing distractions.

On the other side however, there's a fast growing cohort of innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and sleep practitioners who recognise the unbounded potential of technology to improve, rather than detract from our sleep.

In this episode we talk to Julian Jagtenberg, co-founder of Somnox, a company at the vanguard of the vibrant, innovative 21st century consumer sleep technology industry. We talk to Julian about the world's first sleep robot, and how the new 'sleep economy' may offer exciting new pathways and opportunities to help people overcome sleep issues, without resorting to pills, or potions.

This episode's guest:

Julian Jagtenberg is Chief Marketing Officer and co-founder of Somnox, the world’s first sleep robot. Created to fight insomnia, help the sleep deprived and start a global sleep revolution, Somnox was borne from Julian’s desire to help his mother manage and overcome insomnia without the need for prescription medication.

He graduated with honors from the Delft University of Technology with a degree in Industrial Design, and also holds a minor in Robotics from the Delft Biorobotics Lab

As an industrial design engineer, Julian is on a mission to develop soft robotics to contribute to health and well-being. With multiple design and engineering awards, including the James Dyson Award, Philips Innovation Award, Robotdalen Innovation Award and Sprout’s 25 under 25, Julian passionately believes in the ability of robotics to help humans live happier and healthier lives.

Julian's website: https://julianjagtenberg.com/

Somnox website: https://somnox.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianjagtenberg/

More Resources:

Paro Therapeutic Robots: http://www.parorobots.com/

Our in-depth review of the Somnox Sleep Robot: https://sleepgadgets.io/somnox-sleep-robot-review/

Episode Homepage: http://sleepjunkies.com/somnox-robot-sleep-economy/

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