Activation Synthesis Theory

From Freepedia

Activation Synthesis Theory is a neurobiological theory of dreams, put forward by Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley in 1977, which states that dreams are a random event caused by firing of neurons in the brain. This 'random firing' sends signals to the body's motor functions, but because of a paralysis that occurs during REM sleep, the brain is faced with a paradox. It synthesizes a narrative by drawing on memory systems, in an attempt to make sense of what it has experienced.

The orginal 1977 theory denied that dreams have meaning or are related to our real world enviornments. But this point drew plenty of criticism from other dream experts, and so, in 1988, Hobson published a revised theory acknowledging that dreams do reflect past memories, fears, hopes and desires.