Final answer:
Dreams, according to the activation-synthesis theory, are the brain's attempt to find logic in the random activity during REM sleep, rather than meaningful representations of unconscious desires or thoughts. This theory, which has evolved over time, supports the idea that dreams may help in forming a virtual reality aiding waking life.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the activation-synthesis theory of dreaming, developed by neuroscientist Alan Hobson, dreams result from the brain's attempts to make sense of random neural activity during REM sleep. This theory suggests dreams do not have inherent meanings as proposed by Freud but are instead the brain's effort to synthesize this random activity, also described as 'activation', into something logical. Hobson's more recent work posits that dreaming may represent a state of protoconsciousness, constructing a virtual reality that could be beneficial in waking life. The involvement of lucid dreams in this theory also points to dreams allowing certain aspects of wakefulness to persist, enabling individuals to become aware they are dreaming and exert control over the dream narrative.
Rosalind Cartwright's empirical research supports a view that dream content reflects significant life events for the dreamer. Together with the work of pioneers like Freud, Jung, and contemporary researchers employing fMRI technology, the study of dreams continues to provide valuable insights into human cognition and the processing of experiences into long-term memories. Dreaming appears to be a universal biological process serving various cognitive and emotional functions.