A new theoretical approach to the functional meaning of sleep and dreaming in humans based on the maintenance of 'predictive psychic homeostasis'.
Luigi F Agnati, Peter W Barlow, František Baluška, Paolo Tonin, Michele Guescini, Giuseppina Leo, Kjell Fuxé
Communicative & Integrative Biology November 1, 2011 DOI: 10.4161/cib.17602 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Keywords | Predictive psychic homeostasis Evolutionary tinkering |
| Key points | Proposes that sleep and dreaming serve to maintain a newly introduced composite state, 'predictive psychic homeostasis', by compensating for psychic allostatic overloads. Argues that circadian rhythms of peripheral organs, renal evolution, and the resetting of neuroendocrine controls at waking link internal-milieu constancy with memory integration, and that both consolatory dreams and disturbing nightmares can act as part of the vis medicatrix naturae in support of eudemonia. |
Abstract
Different theories have been put forward during the last decade to explain the functional meaning of sleep and dreaming in humans. In the present paper, a new theory is presented which, while taking advantage of these earlier theories, introduces the following new and original aspects: • Circadian rhythms relevant to various organs of the body affect the reciprocal interactions which operate to maintain constancy of the internal milieu and thereby also affect the sleep/wakefulness cycle. Particular attention is given to the constancy of natraemia and osmolarity and to the permissive role that the evolution of renal function has had for the evolution of the central nervous system and its integrative actions. • The resetting of neuro-endocrine controls at the onset of wakefulness leads to the acquisition of new information and its integration within previously stored memories. This point is dealt with in relation to Moore-Ede's proposal for the existence of a 'predictive homeostasis'. • The concept of 'psychic homeostasis' is introduced and is considered as one of the most important states since it is aimed at the well-being, or eudemonia, of the human psyche. Sleep and dreaming in humans are discussed as important functions for the maintenance of a newly proposed composite state: that of 'predictive psychic homeostasis'. On the basis of these assumptions, and in accordance with the available neurobiological data, the present paper puts forward the novel hypothesis that sleep and dreaming play important functions in humans by compensating for psychic allostatic overloads. Hence, both consolatory dreams and disturbing nightmares can be part of the vis medicatrix naturae, the natural healing power, in this case, the state of eudemonia.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dreaming: a conceptual framework for philosophy of mind and empirical research | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Metaphor and hyperassociativity: the imagination mechanisms behind emotion assimilation in sleep and dreaming | 2015 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Varieties of Lucid Dreaming Experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Experimental Research on Dreaming: State of the Art and Neuropsychoanalytic Perspectives | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Neurobiology of Consciousness: Lucid Dreaming Wakes Up | 2009 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- Treatment of nightmares in the context of posttraumatic stress disorder Journal of Clinical Psychology September 23, 2010
- Nightmare reduction in a Vietnam veteran using imagery rehearsal therapy. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine October 1, 2010
- Changes in cardiac variability after REM sleep deprivation in recurrent nightmares. Sleep 2010
- REM and NREM sleep mentation. International review of neurobiology 2010
- Representation of the Self in REM and NREM Dreams. Dreaming June 1, 2007
and 3 more in the library