Final answer:
Activation-synthesis theory suggests that dreams are mental responses to random bursts of neural stimulation during REM sleep. It was developed by neuroscientist Alan Hobson and proposes that dreaming involves constructing a virtual reality in our heads.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory that suggests that dreams are mental responses to random bursts of neural stimulation is Activation-synthesis theory. According to this theory, dreams are not meaningful representations of anxieties or desires, but rather the brain's attempt to make sense of the random activity that occurs during REM sleep. The theory was developed by neuroscientist Alan Hobson, who proposed that dreaming involves constructing a virtual reality in our heads. An example of this theory is lucid dreams, where individuals are aware that they are dreaming and can control the content of their dreams.