Neural Networks of Unconscious Processes: A Systematic Review of Functional Connectivity in Dreams and Free Association
Cureus February 1, 2026 Héctor Aceituno, Juan José Valero, Luisana Maldonado-De Santiago et al.
Although previous neurophysiological studies validated aspects of unconscious processing, a detailed characterization of specific neural circuits required modern functional neuroimaging techniques. This systematic review examines the shared neural substrates between dreaming and free association of ideas, two paradigmatic manifestations of unconscious processing. A systematic search was...