Dream Generation: Neurobiological Mechanisms, Phenomenology, Age-Related Features, and Clinical Aspects
Юр'єв Віктор Єгорович Viktor Yuriev
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) May 1, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19940933 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review |
|---|---|
| Topics | Lucid dreaming Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Content measure theory Autobiographical memory Perception Neurocognitive Cognition Cognitive psychology Cognitive science Psychoanalysis |
| Key findings | Dreaming is a brain-generated phenomenon with neural mechanisms involving the brainstem, limbic system, and cortex, and is distinct from hallucinations. |
Abstract
This article provides a comprehensive neurocognitive overview of dreaming as a complex brain-generated phenomenon. It examines the neural mechanisms underlying dream formation, including the roles of the brainstem, limbic system, and cortex. Special attention is given to sensory components of dreams, such as visual, auditory, and olfactory experiences. The paper analyzes the influence of body position, sleep stages, and micro-arousals on dream content and recall. It also explores autobiographical memory and its reconstructive nature in shaping dream narratives. Age-related changes in sleep architecture and their impact on dream phenomenology are discussed. The distinction between dreaming and hallucinations is clarified from a neurophysiological perspective. Aggressive dream content and its relation to emotional processing are examined. Lucid dreaming is described as a state involving partial restoration of metacognitive control. The article concludes by highlighting the clinical relevance of dream research for mental health conditions. Keywords: dreaming; REM sleep; NREM sleep; hallucinations; lucid dreaming; autobiographical memory; prophetic dreams; hypertension; age-related changes in sleep; limbic system; hippocampus
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on philosophy of mind, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body Consciousness: A Philosophy of Mindfulness and Somaesthetics | 2008 | Review article | |
| Phenomenology, Structure, and Dynamic of Psychedelic States | 2016 | Review | |
| Classic Hallucinogens and Mystical Experiences: Phenomenology and Neural Correlates. | 2018 | Review | |
| The lived experience of psychosis: a bottom-up review co-written by experts by experience and academics. Individuals with lived experience of psychosis, family members, and carers | 2022 | Co-written bottom-up review | |
| From autopoiesis to neurophenomenology: Francisco Varela's exploration of the biophysics of being. | 2003 | Review |