Dr. S. Gabriela Torres-Platas, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist whose research focuses on the biological mechanisms underlying mental health and contemplative practices. She earned her Ph.D. from McGill University, where her doctoral work explored the role of glial cells in the inflammatory processes associated with depression and suicide. This pivotal research advanced the understanding of how the brain's immune system contributes to psychiatric disorders.

Following her Ph.D., Dr. Torres-Platas expanded her expertise by pursuing clinical research training, co-leading a laboratory at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. There, she conducted several clinical trials investigating the biological effects of mindfulness-based interventions for treating psychiatric conditions, merging her interests in neuroscience and mental health.

Currently, Dr. Torres-Platas is a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University, working in the Paller Lab. She studies the neural correlates of Tibetan Dream Yoga, a centuries-old practice within Buddhist traditions. Her work investigates how lucid dreaming and dream yoga can enhance contemplative practices during sleep, aiming to understand how these practices influence neural pathways and cognitive habits. Her research involves a unique collaboration with the Emory-Tibet Science Program, and monastic scholars to research these practices in Tibetan Monasteries in India.

By combining traditional Tibetan practices with modern neuroscience, Dr. Torres-Platas' research brings innovative insights into how the brain can be trained to achieve greater mental clarity and well-being. Her studies involve monitoring advanced practitioners of dream yoga using EEG, post-sleep reports, and even real-time communication with lucid dreamers, pushing the frontiers of dream research.