It's Possible to Learn in Our Sleep. Should We?

"Alois Benjamin Saliger's Psycho-phone, patented in 1932, was designed to play recordings while a person slept, claiming to influence the unconscious mind with affirmations."

"People have long fantasized about learning effortlessly during sleep, with the idea that one could absorb knowledge from audio while snoozing."

"Notable figures like Dmitri Mendeleev and Mary Shelley have reported that key insights and creative ideas came to them in their dreams."

"The concept of hypnopaedia, or sleep education, has been explored in literature, notably in Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World', where it serves both educational and manipulative purposes."

New research indicates that individuals can engage in communication and skill practice during dreams. Historical examples include Alois Benjamin Saliger's Psycho-phone, which claimed to influence the unconscious mind through audio recordings played during sleep. Many have fantasized about learning effortlessly while asleep, with notable figures like Dmitri Mendeleev and Mary Shelley attributing significant insights to their dreams. This concept of sleep education has been explored in literature, suggesting a long-standing interest in the potential of dreams for learning and creativity.

Read at The New Yorker