Describe Some of the Features of Dreams

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The Answer is The answer should provide the following information: (1) Many dreams are intensely emotional, suggesting that the amygdala is active during REM sleep; (2) Dreams are visually expressive, but the other senses are virtually absent. In a way, dreaming is very similar to visual imagination. The actual areas associated with sensory perception (including visual perception) are not activated during dreaming. Visual association areas associated with visual imagery, however, are activated during REM sleep; (3) The prefrontal cortex shows less arousal during REM sleep. This area of the brain is associated with planning; dreams often seem unplanned and rambling; (4) During REM sleep, the motor cortex is activated, but spinal neurons running through the brain stem inhibit the expression of this motor activation; therefore, the dreamer remains still. This is fortuitous because acting out our dreams would be dangerous. This also shows that sleepwalkers are not dreaming.

Describe Some of the Features of Dreams

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