Scientists Use Brain Scans to Partially Reconstruct Dreams
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In 2013, Japanese researchers developed a method to "read" dreams by matching fMRI brain activity patterns to visual objects seen while awake.
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The technique utilized machine learning models to identify correlations between brain activity and visual stimuli.
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The resulting "dream recordings" consist of flashes of still images that correlate with measured brain activity, not narrative movie-like sequences.
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Study subjects were awakened from REM sleep and asked to describe dreams, which were then grouped into image categories.
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As of 2024, the research team has improved visual reconstruction methods that may better reflect subjective visual experiences like dreams.