When the Brain Gets It Wrong: How Nocturnal Penile Tumescence and Dream-State Misinterpretation Jointly Cause Nightfall.

What if some of our most accepted explanations in science were quietly missing something? In this paper, I present a new hypothesis that re-examines the mechanism behind nocturnal emissions, or “nightfall.” Drawing on interdisciplinary evidence and logical analysis, I propose that nightfall may not arise from unresolved sexual desire or hormonal overflow, as often assumed, but rather from a miscommunication within REM sleep processes.Specifically, the hypothesis integrates three distinct mechanisms: 1) The physiological upregulation of penile sensitivity during REM sleep.2) The temporary shutdown of critical evaluation by the prefrontal cortex.3) The memory system's inability to properly encode certain dream content. Together, these processes may create a “perfect storm,” allowing the brain to wrongly interpret neutral dream cues as sexual, triggering involuntary ejaculation—often without any consciously erotic dream.Whether ultimately confirmed or refuted, I believe this hypothesis opens a door worth walking through. This abstract is written for curious minds and fellow researchers alike — I invite you to read the full paper and evaluate the idea on its scientific merit.