1. The Interpretation of dreams
The Fact beneath the Fiction
Michael Neeb, Ph.D. , DABSM, CCTI

2. An introduction to Freudian theory
9/21/2018

3. The Interpretation of Dreams
First published1899

4. Wish Fulfillment Theory
Dreams are an expression of unacceptable wishes or impulses that are repressed in the waking state
Restrictions remain on the open expression of impulses even during sleep…and therefore their expression is often distorted into unrecognizable forms

5. DREAM MENTATION PRIMARY PROCESS: SECONDARY PROCESS:
Thinking that is oblivious to the constraints of normal space and time and logic
SECONDARY PROCESS:
Thinking that is governed by laws of logic, space, & time

6. DREAM RECALL The problems with DREAM RECALL:
Our attempts to communicate about primary process images & stories experienced during sleep….are compromised by the restrictions of secondary process language & thinking that operate during wake

7. The concept of PRIMARY PROCESS thinking may explain why dreams are so creative and allow for problem-solving.

9. Wish Fulfillment Theory
Dreams are an expression of unacceptable wishes or impulses that are repressed in the waking state

10. Repressed impulses In particular: anger and sex
Unacceptable in wake life….and therefore suppressed; released for expression in sleep

11. Repressed impulses However, even in sleep, must be disguised
And once disguised, they must be interpreted to determine their real meaning
And thus we have one of the primary tools used in psychoanalysis

12. DREAM WORK
The process by which the dreamer…or the therapist…attempts to translate the latent content into the manifest content
Manifest Content: the dream as remembered & reported by the dreamer
Latent Content: the underlying meaning of the images, thoughts, feelings expressed in a dream

15. Serious freudian symbolism

17. The problem with Freudian wish fulfillment
Many people dream with very little symbolism (i.e., little difference between latent & manifest content)
Most dreams seem to represent the subject’s emotional and mental state around the time of the dream
Repetitive traumatic dreams (PTSD) can hardly be viewed as wish-fulfilling

19. Audience Participation!!

20. THE ACTIVATION-SYNTHESIS HYPOTHESIS
ALLAN HOBSON
The Activation- Synthesis Model of Dreaming
ROBERT McCARLEY

21. 1977
“ The primary motivating force for dreaming is not psychological but physiological since the time of occurrence and duration of dream sleep are quite constant, suggesting a preprogrammed, neurally-determined genesis”

22. Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis
The brainstem sends random signals up to parts of the forebrain that control emotions, movement, vision, and hearing (the Activation part)
…and the higher brain centers (cortex) patch together a reasonable story out of this random electrical input (the Synthesis part)

23. PGO SPIKES PGO Spikes Large electrical potentials
Originating in the pons
Appear in lateral geniculate nucleus msec later
Then on to occipital cortex (visual centers)

24. PGO SPIKES

25. PGO SPIKES Arrive in bursts after the onset of REM
Trigger the rapid eye movements of REM
Cause many of the IRREGULARITIES of REM

26. Dreams are emotional because there is tremendous increase in firing within the amygdala.

27. Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis
Dreams are strange and fragmented NOT because unacceptable, repressed impulses are being censored…
But because the brain is in a naturally chaotic state during REM

28. Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis
The reason that dream content often seems disoriented or bizarre is because the activated brain does its best to attribute meaning and logic to the internally-generated signals of the central nervous system.

29. Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis
Theory was VERY well received
Based on neuroscience, not subjective reports
REMEMBER: the field of dream research deals with the worst kind of data:
Half-formed thoughts and memories and images…
Never encoded into short-term memory…
Reported by groggy volunteers awakened from their sleep…
Who may or may not be willing to disclose true content

30. How do we reconcile all of this?
We have a “dream generator” in our brains that sets off neural discharges from the brainstem on a cyclical basis
Many dreams have an emotional or psychological connection to events occurring in our daily lives
Many dreams remain connected to past experiences and memories
How do we reconcile all of this?

31. If it’s all random, how can it have meaning?
Perhaps the brainstem sparks an impulse that then travels down a path that is “primed for stimulation”
Where it starts may be random, but where it ends may be more predictable

32. Priming the pump
These pathways are “primed” by virtue of the fact that they have recently been activated by the patient’s waking thoughts or feelings
Or they are “primed” by virtue of being prominent memories from the past

33. Subconscious processing
Processing of information during the waking hours:
Information that enters through our senses but is never fully processed by our cortex.
A fleeting thought unattended to during wake.

37. Why do we dream?
Memory Consolidation Hypothesis (Helmuth)
REM consolidates learned material and memory acquired during wakefulness
Reverse Learning Theory (Crick & Mitchison)
Dreams help eliminate cognitive debris from the brain’s overloaded memory system (beta amyloid)

39. Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
CSF fills spaces that surround the brain.
CSF doesn’t stay on the outer surface of the brain, but rather is pumped into the inner regions of brain.
It flows along the outsides of the blood vessels, and cleans away the waste from spaces between brain cells.
Access to entire brain volume.

40. Accomplished by brain cells actually shrinking in size during sleep
The extracellular space between brain neurons increased by approximately 60% in the sleeping brain compared to the waking baseline.
Accomplished by brain cells actually shrinking in size during sleep
The authors hypothesized that the restorative properties of sleep may be linked to increased clearance of metabolic waste products produced by neural activity in the awake brain.
Sleep Drives Metabolite Clearance from the Adult Brain
Science Oct 18; 342(6156): /science

41. What is dreaming?
“The bizarre, technicolor pastiche of unpredictable, fast moving and usually fascinating scenes...largely based on previous waking events, distorted in irrational ways.”
Jim Horne

42. COMMON DREAMS
Collective Unconscious
9/21/2018

43. flying Scenario Meaning
You can fly like a bird, and usually have super-human powers
You’ve gained a new perspective on things and have a positive new outlook. You are in control, and on top of the world. Frequently in response to things like promotions at work, getting married, etc.

44. being chased Scenario Meaning
A frightening scene in which someone or something is chasing after you, and you have difficulty getting away.
You are avoiding or running away from your problems, but the problems are catching up with you. Your subconscious mind suspects a threat is at hand.

45. taking an exam Meaning Scenario
Suddenly you realize you are supposed to be taking an important exam. You’re upset because you can’t find the classroom, haven’t been to class all semester, or some such obstacle is in your way.
You’re being scrutinized unfairly, or you’re being tested by someone and you don’t feel up to the challenge. Or perhaps you’ve neglected something that needs your attention.

46. teeth falling out Scenario Meaning
You experience a strange sensation in your mouth, and find yourself spitting out teeth.
Teeth symbolize power and the ability to communicate. Losing teeth means you’re feeling powerless in a situation, or you’ve lost the ability to speak your mind.

47. Naked in public Scenario Meaning
You’re at work or school or other public place, and you suddenly realize you’re not wearing any pants or clothes!
You’re feeling exposed because you’re not prepared for something you need to do in your life, or you’re feeling insecure about your abilities

48. THE
END