A state of confusion in information processing makes the sleeping brain a dream generator
Wenlu Zhang
Medical Research Archives 2018 DOI: 10.18103/mra.v6i1.1609 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Proposes that dreams result from the sleeping brain retaining partial activity and attempting, but failing, to correctly process information, with the bizarre nature of dreams attributed to this confusion. Argues that dreams can be viewed as a kind of mental disorder occurring in a healthy brain during sleep, and suggests that similar dream-like mental states in the waking brain may give rise to various mental illnesses. |
Abstract
Dreams, generated by the sleeping brain, are one of the most common and fascinating phenomena of human mind. But the role and mechanism of dreaming remain largely unknown. This paper provided the phenomenon showing that the brain is trying, but always failing, to correctly process information in the sleeping state. We proposed that dreams are the product of the brain retaining partial activity and functioning during sleep, and the bizarre nature of dreams is attributed to the sleeping brain’s confusion in information processing. Hence dreams can be presented as a kind of mental disorder that occurs in healthy brain during sleep. Furthermore, clues suggest that mental states similar to dreams may occur in waking brain, which can result in many kinds of mental illnesses. Key words: dream; sleep; consciousness; mental disorder
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- The consistency and continuity hypotheses revisited through the dreams of women at two periods of their lives. Dreaming June 1, 2000
- The threat simulation theory of the evolutionary function of dreaming: Evidence from dreams of traumatized children. Consciousness and Cognition March 1, 2005
- Incorporation of presleep stimuli into dream contents: evidence for a consolidation effect on declarative knowledge during REM sleep? Journal of Sleep Research December 1, 2004
- Dreaming and episodic memory: a functional dissociation? Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 2003
- Sleep, learning, and dreams: off-line memory reprocessing. Science November 2, 2001
and 1 more in the library