Topographic-dynamic reorganisation model of dreams (TRoD) - A spatiotemporal approach.
Georg Northoff, Andrea Scalabrini, Stuart Fogel
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews May 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105117 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Dream Dynamic Re-organization Self Spatio-temporal neuroscience Topography |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key points | Proposes that dreams are characterized by a topographic shift toward increased default-mode network activity and reduced central executive network activity, combined with a dynamic shift toward slower frequencies, which together produce bizarre, self-centric, hallucinatory mental content. |
Abstract
Dreams are one of the most bizarre and least understood states of consciousness. Bridging the gap between brain and phenomenology of (un)conscious experience, we propose the Topographic-dynamic Re-organization model of Dreams (TRoD). Topographically, dreams are characterized by a shift towards increased activity and connectivity in the default-mode network (DMN) while they are reduced in the central executive network, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (except in lucid dreaming). This topographic re-organization is accompanied by dynamic changes; a shift towards slower frequencies and longer timescales. This puts dreams dynamically in an intermediate position between awake state and NREM 2/SWS sleep. TRoD proposes that the shift towards DMN and slower frequencies leads to an abnormal spatiotemporal framing of input processing including both internally- and externally-generated inputs (from body and environment). In dreams, a shift away from temporal segregation to temporal integration of inputs results in the often bizarre and highly self-centric mental contents as well as hallucinatory-like states. We conclude that topography and temporal dynamics are core features of the TroD, which may provide the connection of neural and mental activity, e.g., brain and experience during dreams as their "common currency".