Dreaming, Mind-Wandering, and Hypnotic Dreams.
Peter Fazekas, Georgina Nemeth
Frontiers in neurology January 1, 2020 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.565673 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractDreaming, mind-wandering, and hypnotic dreams may share underlying neural mechanisms, challenging earlier theories. Hobson's AIM theory mapped states of consciousness along dimensions of brain activity, input source, and neurochemical modulation, linking REM dreaming to other altered states like hypnosis. However, hypnosis is not a sleep-like state, and dreaming is not REM-centric. The neuro-cognitive theory places dreaming and mind-wandering on a continuum driven by default-mode network activity, questioning AIM theory. This paper argues that hypnotic dreams—experiences arising from explicit suggestions during hypnosis—can inform the neuro-cognitive theory, and comparing them with dreaming and mind-wandering may advance understanding of consciousness.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Keywords | Hypnosis Hypnotic analog Hypnotic dreams Mind-wandering |
| Citations | 14 |
| Key finding | Hypnotic dreams can be relevant to the neuro-cognitive theory that dreaming and mind-wandering share default-mode network activity, and their comparison may advance the field. |
Abstract
Hobson's AIM theory offers a general framework for thinking about states of consciousness like wakefulness, REM dreaming and NREM mentations in terms of a state space defined by the dimensions of the level of brain activity, the source of input, and the type of neurochemical modulation. This account inspired theoretical models of other altered states of consciousness-including hypnosis-claiming that studying REM dreaming can advance our understanding of these phenomena as well. However, recent developments showed that hypnosis is not a sleep like stage, and that the REM-centric attitude toward dreaming is mistaken. At the same time, the advancement of the neuro-cognitive theory claiming that dreaming and mind-wandering are on a continuum both underlain by default-mode network activity called many aspects of the AIM theory into question. Our aim in this paper is to show that certain hypnotic states-hypnotic dreams (experiences that subjects have in a hypnotic state as a result of an explicit suggestion to have a dream)-can, nevertheless, be highly relevant for the neuro-cognitive theory, and that their comparison with dreaming and mind-wandering has the potential to advance the field in unexpected ways.