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Michel Jouvet

Sleep and Dreams Publication date : October 1, 2000

Why do we dream? Why has evolution endowed us with a brain that periodically produces a world of strange visions?

Michel Jouvet has dedicated his life to the study of dream mechanisms and consciousness. He discovered the existence of “paradoxical sleep”, which he named and described as the brain’s third working state. In Le Sommeil et Le Rêve Jouvet summarises the essential aspects of his findings, theories and experiences. Perhaps we are most truly in touch with ourselves when we are dreaming.


“The major French specialist in the areas of dreams and paradoxical sleep. His research into paradoxical sleep and his hypotheses on the biological functions of dreams are absolutely fascinating. In addition, Jouvet is a born storyteller, and it is a pleasure to discover the neurobiology of dreams in the company of the author, [...] while asking yourself “What do cats dream of?”, “Why don’t dolphins dream?” and, the essential question, “What use are dreams?” Sciences et Avenir


A member of the French Academy of Science, Michel Jouvet heads a laboratory in Lyons specialising in the study of dreams and sleep. He holds a gold medal from the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique. He is the author of Le Château des Songes, published by Editions Odile Jacob.