How does the activation-synthesis hypothesis explain dreaming?
A) the surfacing of repressed sexual urges
B) biological attempts to make recent memories more permanent
C) the cortex making sense of signals from the brain stem
Signals from the brain stem.
D) the use of elaborate symbolism to disguise "unthinkable" topics

Question

How does the activation-synthesis hypothesis explain dreaming?
A) the surfacing of repressed sexual urges
B) biological attempts to make recent memories more permanent 
C) the cortex making sense of signals from the brain stem 
Signals from the brain stem.
D) the use of elaborate symbolism to disguise "unthinkable" topics

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The activation-synthesis hypothesis proposes that during dreaming, the signals from the brain stem activate the cortex, which then tries to make sense of these signals by synthesizing them into a coherent story or narrative. This process accounts for the often bizarre and illogical content of dreams. It is not related to sexual urges or memory consolidation, and while symbolism may be present in dreams, it is not the primary explanation for their content.

How Does the Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis Explain Dreaming