Patrick McNamara is Associate Professor of Neurology at Boston University and Professor of Psychology at National University, USA. His research into sleep and dreams is ground-breaking and is recognized as such. He has published numerous papers on sleep and dreams, and authored or edited several volumes on the science of sleep and dreams. He won a VA Merit Review Award and two NIH research grant awards for his work.

'This book offers neuroscience's cutting-edge answers to age old questions about sleep and dreams. Patrick McNamara explains research findings in enough detail for the beginner, but with enough depth for the practicing neuroscientist who wants to catch up on these areas. I recommend it enthusiastically to all who want a solid scientific perspective on sleep and dreams.' Deirdre Barrett, author of The Committee of Sleep and Pandemic Dreams

• Introduction; 1. What is sleep?; Part I. Sleep: 2. From biological rhythms to the sleep cycle; 3. Expression of sleep across the human lifespan; 4. Characteristics of REM and NREM sleep; 5. Sleep disorders; 6. Theories of REM and NREM sleep; Part II. Dreams: 7. Introduction: What are dreams?; 8. Dreams across the human lifespan; 9. Characteristics of REM and NREM dreams; 10. Dream varieties; 11. Theories of dreaming.