The activation-synthesis theory proposes that
A) the brain tries to make sense of random neural activity by creating dream narratives.
B) the cortex is inactive during dreaming, so dreaming is completely controlled by the brainstem.
C) the activity in the brainstem constructs or synthesizes dream narratives.
D) dreams are active attempts to synthesize solutions to problems.
Answer: A
Rationale: The activation-synthesis hypothesis predicts that dreams arise from brain activity originating from bursts of excitatory messages arising from the brainstem. The burst of activity activates perceptual areas of the brain, producing imaginary sights and sounds, and it also activates emotional areas. Thus, the brainstem actions initiate the activation component of the model. The synthesis component arises as the cortical areas try to make sense of all the activity.
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