Secrets of Sleep Science: From Dreams to Disorders

By: Craig H. Heller, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Craig H. Heller

Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Sleep is the subject of intense scientific debate among biologists and neuroscientists. Why must we spend about one-third of our lives asleep? What exactly is sleep? Why does a lack of sleep impair our cognitive abilities and leave us vulnerable to a host of medical issues ranging from obesity to reduced resistance to infectious disease?

These 24 engrossing lectures take you to the forefront of the field to reveal what happens in the sleeping brain right down to the cellular and molecular level. You'll investigate what biological changes occur during wakefulness that are reversed during sleep - and why your brain forces you to fall asleep to repay an accumulated sleep deficit, no matter how dangerous the circumstances.

The science of sleep encompasses basic concepts of electricity, neuroanatomy, and neurochemistry, which are responsible for the "architecture of sleep." Professor Heller explains the science behind our circadian rhythms, REM and non-REM sleep, the physiology of dreaming, and more.

Sleep pathologies and disorders are among the most fascinating topics of the course. From disorders such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome to parasomnias such as sleepwalking and night terrors, the most up-to-date findings in the science of sleep are truly riveting.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2013 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2013 The Great Courses

Comprehensive.

This book is a series of lectures and is over 12 hours long. The information most people would want is in the first few hours. It is so thorough that the lecture format can get to be a slog, but it is worth it if you wish to obtain a deeper understanding of sleep without skipping over any aspects. Information is presented in depth, rather than being superficially referenced like a mass market book would do.

Great information, *very* technical

What did you like best about Secrets of Sleep Science: From Dreams to Disorders? What did you like least?

I've loved learning about sleep from the time I understood that my father and I were night owls and my sister and mother were morning birds... and why do my oldest son and I have night terrors (even as an adult I have them) and my other son doesn't... I was always wondering what made us so different!

This is a great book that introduces some concepts I didn't know about (even after all of my reading over the years) but the professor gets into some very technical information on neurochemistry.

Would you be willing to try another book from The Great Courses? Why or why not?

of course! I've got many of them already...

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

yes, the professor was very good - I'd definitely recommend *not* listening to this on 1.5 ;)

Was Secrets of Sleep Science: From Dreams to Disorders worth the listening time?

yes

Any additional comments?

This course left me wanting to ask the professor questions - I'll be sending him an email.

One of the best

Beyond doubt one of the very best lecture series from the TTC/Great Courses. It combines a high academic level with masterful explanations, a keen focus on 'why' we believe as we do and 'how' the results were obtained. It is not only a lesson in sleep science, but also a lesson in the art of lecturing. Even in 2022, I recommend every physician, psychologist and medical student to listen to it.

A school course, but totally worth it!

This course covers a wide spectrum of sleep related topics, including neurology, biology, and pharmacology.
Turns out, seep is important not only to the brain and memory, but also the rest of the body, like immune and cardiovascular systems.

Health conditions, like sleep apnea, effect sleep quality, so sleep is not only good hours.

There are theories based on some research and speculations in this book, so there is room for lots of research.

Sleep deprivation is bad for the genetal health and the quality of life, so make sure you keep a good sleep hygiene.

Sweet dreams.

A Clinical Overview of Sleep

this is a very structured series of lectures on sleep. There's a lot of science and only a few anecdotes that are included in the lectures. However, if you're looking for a good overview, including suggestions out of have a better sleep life, the book can be helpful.

You will never look at sleep the same way again!

This set of lectures puts the epidemic of poor sleep and its negative effects on health and cognition front and center in a way I’ve never seen before. The depth of causation and correlation to some of the most fatal or debilitating health problems in our culture was astounding. In essence, this set of lectures is life changing and life saving in the most profound way.

It's not lying about the science part

A great in depth overview of what we know (and all we don't know) about sleep. It becomes quite technical in some later lectures - if you don't have previous knowledge of physiology/biochemistry expect to need to listen to some of the lectures a few times. Still, this is what the Great Courses should be about - college-level lectures on interesting topics.

Fascinating science delivered in compelling manner

Professor Heller does a fabulous job with this series of 24 lectures, all of which I found very engaging and easy to understand. There are one or two lectures that get deep into the neurology of sleep, but he clearly has experience teaching college students and knows how to make material understandable. He also is very passionate about his research and the possibilities of improving quality of life through better sleep science and popular information about sleep, and as a fellow professor I appreciate that energy. If you are at all interested in sleep science, or you or your loved ones have any issues with sleep, this is a must!

Rigorous

Very good reference. But you have to be a natural academic or medical specialist in the field - else the depth is mind numbing.

found this informative

Found this book very informative and useful to the degree of vital importance and essential information that should be taught in public schools in some kind of digestible manner.