The Role of Neuronal Chain Reactivation During Sleep in Shaping Dream Content

This paper proposes a theoretical model suggesting that the experience of dreams is linked to the process of neural network reactivation during sleep, specifically as a consequence of synaptic cleft clearance. The model argues that during periods of wakefulness, the brain operates on a much larger number of thoughts simultaneously than we are consciously aware of, with many thoughts being processed outside of our focused attention. These unconscious thoughts become "stuck" when synaptic transmission is hindered by the accumulation of by-products from neurotransmitter recycling. As a result, some neural signals fail to propagate fully through their designated pathways. During sleep, these synapses are cleared, and the interrupted neural circuits may be reactivated, leading to the emergence of these unresolved thoughts as dreams. The absence of attention-focused processes during sleep allows these thoughts, which were previously inaccessible, to surface. This hypothesis suggests that dreams are not simply random or meaningless but are a reflection of the brain's attempt to resolve and complete unfinished cognitive processes.