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Lucid Dreaming, Now and Then

To what extent can dreams be evaluated as a subject of medieval literature? How did the lucid dream become a subject of neuroscientific research?

Grafik eines weißen, strömenden neuronalen Netzes im Gehirn auf schwarzem Hintergrund
Foto: Alina Grubnyak

Dreams have always fascinated humanity, from the story of Joseph and Pharaoh in Genesis or Penelope's distinction between significant and insignificant dreams in Homer's Odyssey to modern cinema history and the hype about lucid dreaming in mindfulness apps. Rich in undiscovered ideas and practices, the Middle Ages also form an ideal basis for new insights on the subject of dreams: dreams were often understood as supernatural messages, but social and cultural aspects were also considered in medieval dream theories. Moreover, dreams were used by scholars and poets as a literary genre that served as a vehicle for their ideas about society, religion and human well-being.

In an interdisciplinary project with two modules, the Project Group addresses the topic "Lucid Dreaming Now and Then" from the Middle Ages to the contemporary history of science in order to bring together research in the humanities and neuroscience on dreams in different ways. In the first module, which culminates in a workshop, dreams as an object of medieval literature are subjected to a neuropsychological evaluation. In the second module, a scientific-historical investigation in the laboratory will be devoted to the question of how the lucid dream became a neuroscientific object of research.

23.06.2022

Workshop „Mental Images in the Middle Ages and Neuroscience – New Perspectives“

The ability to see images before "the inner eye" was theoretically discussed in scholastic writings in the Middle Ages as well as critically presented in literary texts. Mental images such as visions, daydreams and sleep dreams played an important role in epistemological processes, religious experiences and artistic arguments for the question of finding and representing truth. Despite their importance for the historical understanding of the human brain, however, medieval concepts of "inner vision" remain under-researched. Can current findings from the neurosciences help to open up the medieval sources in a new way? And, conversely, can ideas from the Middle Ages inspire innovative experiments in the field of neuropsychology? The Hamburg workshop will address these questions by bringing together scientists from the relevant fields for an interdisciplinary discussion.
The workshop is organised by the medievalist Racha Kirakosian (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg and Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study).

Date: 23.06.2022

Location: Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study

Report

On the 23th of June 2022 an interdisciplinary and international workshop entitled “Medieval Mental Images and Neuroscience” funded by the Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS) and Die Junge Akademie took place in Hamburg.

Racha Kirakosian, professor of Medieval German Studies at the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg and member of Die Junge Akademie, invited medievalists and neuroscientists to come together and take part in an interdisciplinary dialogue. The main aim was to find connections between medieval concepts concerning mental images and relevant new insights from a neuroscientific perspective. Many crossovers between the participants' research projects became apparent and all agreed on “Neuromedievalism” to be a promising avenue for further interdisciplinary endeavours. In order to continue the effort in investigating the marriage of Medieval Studies and Neuroscience, a common scientific terminology and new models are needed. The workshop concluded with the presentation of Karin Jensen’s and Racha Kirakosian’s common work on the medieval roots of test trials, held as a public evening talk at the HIAS.

Participants:

  • Thomas Âgren (Emotion Mental Imagery Lab, Uppsala University)
  • Isabelle Dolezalek (Medieval History of Art, University of Greifswald & Die Junge Akademie)
  • Jonas Hermann (Medieval German, Harvard University)
  • Karin Jensen (Pain Neuroimaging Lab, Karolinska Institute Stockholm)
  • Racha Kirakosian (Medieval German, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg; HIAS Fellow 2021/2022 & Die Junge Akademie)
  • Marieke McKenna (Donders Sleep & Memory Lab, Donders Institute Nijmegen)
  • Ben Morgan (German Studies, Oxford University)
  • Michael Stolz (Medieval German, University of Bern; 2021/2022 Fellow at the Alfred Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg Greifswald)
  • Katja Wiech (Neuroscience, Oxford University)

participating Members

participating Alumnae / Alumni

Activities

    • Workshop "Mental Images in the Middle Ages and Neuroscience - New Perspectives"

      As part of the project "Lucid Dreaming, Now and Then", medievalist Racha Kirakosian (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg and Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study) is organising an internal workshop on "Mental Images in the Middle Ages and Neuroscience - New Perspectives".

      The ability to see images before "the inner eye" was theoretically discussed in scholastic writings in the Middle Ages as well as critically presented in literary texts. Mental images such as visions, daydreams and sleep dreams played an important role in epistemological processes, religious experiences and artistic arguments for the question of finding and representing truth. Despite their importance for the historical understanding of the human brain, however, medieval concepts of "inner vision" remain under-researched. Can current findings from the neurosciences help to open up the medieval sources in a new way? And, conversely, can ideas from the Middle Ages inspire innovative experiments in the field of neuropsychology? The Hamburg workshop will address these questions by bringing together scientists from the relevant fields for an interdisciplinary discussion.

      Topics:

      Starts on
      23.06.22

      Event access: Internal

      Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study