Video:What Is the Activation-Synthesis Model of Dreaming

Transcript:What Is the Activation-Synthesis Model of Dreaming

Hi, I'm Jen D'Amore for About.com, and this video is all about the activation-synthesis model of dreaming.

Activation-Synthesis Model Explains Physiology of Dreams

There are many theories attempting to explain how and why we dream. While Freud's famed psychoanalytic theory of dreams suggests that dreams are "a representation of unconscious desires, thought, and motivations," the activation-synthesis model of dreaming developed by J. Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley, takes a more physiological approach.

REM Sleep and the Activation-Synthesis Model

During REM sleep, circuits in the brain stem are activated, thereby activating areas of the limbic system, including the amygdala and the hippocampus, that are involved in emotions, sensations, and memories. This internal activity is interpreted by the brain, which attempts to create meaning from the signals, resulting in dreams.The activation-synthesis model is controversial, as many researchers attempt to decode the meanings of dreams. But, despite relying on the physiological processes, Hobson does not discount the importance of dreams, claiming it "may be our most creative conscious state."

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