The Dreaming Brain: Why Humans and Animals Dream

The provided text, "Why Humans and Animals Dream," explores the complex phenomenon of dreaming across different species. It begins by discussing the neurobiological basis of dreaming, detailing the distinct stages of sleep, particularly NREM and REM sleep, and the specific brain regions and neurochemical changes that facilitate dream generation. The text then investigates various theories regarding the purpose of dreaming in humans, ranging from early psychoanalytic ideas by Freud and Jung to modern neurobiological theories like the Activation-Synthesis hypothesis and models focusing on memory consolidation and emotional regulation. Finally, the document examines evidence for dreaming in animals, presenting physiological and behavioral clues, along with definitive neural replay studies in rats and birds, while also acknowledging the philosophical challenges in understanding subjective experience in non-human species.

Research done with the help of artificial intelligence, and presented by two AI-generated hosts.