AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Activation-Synthesis Theory, also called the neural activation theory, is a neurobiological approach to explain why humans have dreams. It states that a dream is the cerebral cortex processing nerve impulses being sent from the body to the brain stem into something that makes sense.

Detailed explanation-2: -This theory of dreaming was first proposed by Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley in 1977. According to the theory of activation synthesis, circuits in the brain are activated during REM sleep.

Detailed explanation-3: -Regular brain stimulation from REM sleep may help develop and preserve neural pathways. REM sleep triggers impulses that evoke random visual memories, which our sleeping brain weaves into stories. Dream content reflects the dreamers’ cognitive development-his or her knowledge and understanding.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Defensive Activation Theory: REM Sleep as a Mechanism to Prevent Takeover of the Visual Cortex. Regions of the brain maintain their territory with continuous activity: if activity slows or stops (e.g., because of blindness), the territory tends to be taken over by its neighbors.

Detailed explanation-5: -Activation-Synthesis Theory-Theory that dreaming occurs when the cerebral cortex synthesizes neural signals generated from activity in the lower part of the brains attempts to find logic in random brain activity that occurs during sleep.