Cited by 865Sleep and Wakefulness ResearchMemory and Neural MechanismsNeural dynamics and brain function

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The function of dream sleep

Crick, Francis, Mitchison, Graeme·1983·Nature

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Abstract

We propose that the function of dream sleep (more properly rapid-eye movement or REM sleep) is to remove certain undesirable modes of interaction in networks of cells in the cerebral cortex. We postulate that this is done in REM sleep by a reverse learning mechanism (see also p. 158), so that the trace in the brain of the unconscious dream is weakened, rather than strengthened, by the dream.

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Sleep Disorders
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McNamara, P. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316817094.016
What Is Sleep?
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Authors: Crick, F., & Mitchison, G.
Affiliations: Salk Institute for Biological Studies (US)
ORCID: Mitchison, Graeme
Venue: Nature
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 1983-07
Volume: 304
Issue: 5922
Pages: 111-114
ISSN: 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
1476-4687
DOI: 10.1038/304111a0
OpenAlex: W2044707217
Cited by: 865
References: 29
Citations by year: 2026: 8 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 27
FWCI: 18.78
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Nature (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Profiles in Science (submittedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
Keywords: REM sleep, dream function, cerebral cortex, neural network interactions, reverse learning
MeSH terms: Cerebral Cortex, Dreams, Humans, Models, Psychological, Neurons, Sleep, REM, Synapses

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The function of dream sleep

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