GCSE Psychology · key term

Activation Synthesis Theory

Definition

A biological explanation proposed by Hobson and McCarley in which dreams arise when the cerebral cortex tries to make sense of random neural activity during sleep.

Used by OCR

How each exam board covers it

OCR GCSE Psychology · J203

Paper 2

Hobson and McCarley proposed the Activation Synthesis Theory of Dreaming in 1977. It offers a biological explanation: dreams begin with activity inside the sleeping brain, rather than with a hidden wish that needs to be disguised, as Freud proposed.
Revise: Activation Synthesis Theory: Brain Processes and Evaluation

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Definition

How each exam board covers it

OCR GCSE Psychology · J203

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