Dream: from Phenomenology to Neurophysiology

Abstract

Dream is commonly used to express an unattainable ideal or a very deep and strong desire. Neurophysiological correlation of dreaming are still unclear and many questions remain unresolved, i.e. whether the images in dreams emerge randomly from the brain or they are controlled by currently known/unknown parameters and are determined by any rules; whether dreaming has any meaningful function or it just a byproduct of sleep, etc. Psychoanalytical perspective in cognitive neuroscience helps to achieve a comprehensive understanding of dreaming but it is challenging to interpret rationally. Thus, close interaction between neuroscience and psychoanalysis would probably take the dream research to a new height.

Key words: Dream, brain activity, REM sleep, NREM sleep.