Activation-synthesis hypothesis

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Activation-synthesis hypothesis

The Activation-synthesis hypothesis is a neurobiological theory of dreams first proposed by J. Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley in 1977. The hypothesis suggests that dreams are a result of the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity that occurs during sleep.

Pronunciation

  • Activation: /ˌæk.tɪˈveɪ.ʃən/
  • Synthesis: /ˈsɪn.θə.sɪs/
  • Hypothesis: /haɪˈpɒθ.ɪ.sɪs/

Etymology

The term "Activation-synthesis hypothesis" is derived from the two key processes involved in this theory: "activation" referring to the random neural activity, and "synthesis" referring to the brain's attempt to make sense of this activity.

Related Terms

  • Neurobiology: The study of the nervous system and its structure, development, function, chemistry, pharmacology, and pathology.
  • Dreams: A succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep.
  • Sleep: A naturally recurring state of mind and body, characterized by altered consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity, reduced muscle activity and inhibition of nearly all voluntary muscles.
  • J. Allan Hobson: An American psychiatrist and dream researcher.
  • Robert McCarley: An American neuroscientist who was a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

See Also

External links

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