LEWISTON — The cause, meaning and importance of dreams and nightmares will be discussed at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5, at Lifetree Café, 1919 Lisbon Road.

The program, “Dreams and Nightmares: The Science Behind the Stories of Your Mind,” features a filmed interview with Dr. William Moorcroft, author of “Understanding Sleep and Dreaming.”

In the interview, Moorcroft explains that sleep is critical for our brains to function and dreams are a way for the mind to organize and process information.

“There are different components in our brain, and when we’re awake, they function one way,” Moorcroft says. “When we sleep, that functional organization greatly changes. Sleep is not a waste of time; it is a reorganization of the brain.”

In the episode, Moorcroft also discusses the cause of recurring dreams and nightmares.

Admission to the 60-minute event is free.

Lifetree Café is a place where people gather for conversation about life and faith in a casual, comfortable setting.

FMI: 207-783-3316, [email protected].