‘We know very little about how to influence dreams. This experiment aims to change that.’ - Professor Richard Wiseman

The sounds will be played only when the iPhone app’s motion sensor detects that sleepers are not moving — the time when dreaming begins.

Wiseman, a professor at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield, southern England, said, “Getting a good night’s sleep and having pleasant dreams boosts people’s productivity and is essential for their psychological and physical well-being. Despite this, we know very little about how to influence dreams. This experiment aims to change that.”

Wiseman, who describes himself as a “psychologist, author and magician,” teamed up with app-development firm Yuza to create the Dream:ON software, and participants will be encouraged to share their dreams via Facebook and Twitter.