Question

according to the activation-synthesis theory of dreaming, dreams a) result from the brain's attempts to find logic in random brain activity that occurs during sleep. b) should be viewed as a kind of mental simulation that is very similar in content to everyday waking thoughts. c) primarily occur to process information and solve problems. d) are essentially subconscious cognitive processing.

Answer 1

The activation-synthesis theory suggests that dreams are the brain's attempt to make sense of random activity during sleep, with updated views considering dreams as a state of protoconsciousness to prepare us for wakefulness.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the activation-synthesis theory of dreaming, initially developed by neuroscientist Alan Hobson, dreams (a) result from the brain's attempts to find logic in random brain activity that occurs during sleep. This theory suggests that during REM sleep, our brains are active and the dreams are essentially the brain trying to construct a narrative out of the chaotic and random thoughts and electrical activity that occur. Over time and with more research, this theory has evolved to also consider dreams as a state of protoconsciousness, where our dreaming minds prepare us for situations in waking life, essentially creating a virtual reality as a form of mental rehearsal for real-life experiences.

Answer 2

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.