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Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis in AP Psychology

Written by the Fiveable Content Team
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team

Definition

The Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis is a theory proposed by J. Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley that suggests dreams are a result of random neural activity in the brain being interpreted and synthesized into a coherent story during REM sleep.

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