Dreams
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If woken from REM, people reported dreaming 78% of the time
Most of the time people do not know they are dreaming
Lucid dreams-awareness of dreaming (not common)
Dream theories:
1. Wish Fulfillment
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Psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud
Dreams are disguised wishes of the unconscious mind
Dreams constructed to express desires in confusing symbolic manner to protect dreamer
Meaning of dream is hidden
2. Off-line dream theory
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Dreaming consolidates and stores information gathered during the day to allow the brain to work
more efficiently
People spend more time in REM sleep after learning difficult material
Less learning occurs if denied REM sleep
3. Activation –synthesis theory
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Dreams are the forebrain’s attempt to interpret random neural activity coming from the midbrain
during sleep
Content related to your daily experiences but dreams have no real hidden meaning
Dreams



If woken from REM, people reported dreaming 78% of the time
Most of the time people do not know they are dreaming
Lucid dreams-awareness of dreaming (not common)
Dream theories:
1. Wish Fulfillment




Psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud
Dreams are disguised wishes of the unconscious mind
Dreams constructed to express desires in confusing symbolic manner to protect dreamer
Meaning of dream is hidden
2. Off-line dream theory



Dreaming consolidates and stores information gathered during the day to allow the brain to work
more efficiently
People spend more time in REM sleep after learning difficult material
Less learning occurs if denied REM sleep
3. Activation –synthesis theory


Dreams are the forebrain’s attempt to interpret random neural activity coming from the midbrain
during sleep
Content related to your daily experiences but dreams have no real hidden meaning