Dreams’ Neurophysiology: Integration of Neuroscience Concepts and Psychoanalysis

Abstract

Objectives: Evaluate the available informations about dreams, analyzing hypotheses of the neuroscience and psychoanalysis. It is proposed to show discoveries of the dreams’ neurobiology as well as how psychology can explain this phenomenon, in order to observe an integration between these perspectives.   Methods: For this literature review studies were selected (databases - MEDLINE, PUBMED, SCIENCE DIRECT, SciELO and LILACS -, websites and Scientific Journals) on neuroscience and psychoanalysis with approaches of neurobiological processes and dreams meanings.   Main Findings: On the selected studies about this theme, were described the dreams neurobiology besides hypotheses about the origins and functions about them. Psychoanalytic theories are referred for demonstrate the dreams influence under the emotions and vice versa.   Research Implications: There is a connection between studies about dreams from neuroscience and psychoanalysis, which is propelling new researches. Psychotherapy shows empirical results about dreams, which have inspired and guided neuroscientific investigations. There are studies that discuss the relationship between studies about dreams in neuroscience and psychoanalysis, and those are essential to obtain a better understanding of the complexity that surrounds the meaning of dreams at psychosocial and neurophysiological fields. Within this proposal, the present paper expands the understanding of the interrelationships and integration of concepts between neuroscience and psychoanalysis repertory about the dreams.   Originality/value: The paper contributes with the literature of the specific area in the area, due the perspective on psychoanalytic theories of neurobiological functions, and the importance of interconnecting the concepts involved in understanding the phenomenology of dreams.