Dreaming in Focus: Cognitive and Evolutionary Perspectives on the Functions and Mechanisms of Sleep Cognition

Abstract

This paper presents a unified theoretical account of dreaming that integrates cognitive, affective, and evolutionary perspectives. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy of mind, it proposes the Associative–Rehearsal & Reframing Model (ARRM), in which dreams arise from spontaneous neural activation selectively integrated into symbolic, autobiographical, and affective simulations. ARRM frames dreaming as a structured, adaptive process that facilitates memory abstraction, emotional integration, and creative problem-solving through associative expansion in the absence of executive inhibition. Contrary to views of dreams as epiphenomena, ARRM treats dreaming as an evolved, multifunctional simulation space—enhancing emotional resilience, cognitive flexibility, and adaptive foresight. The model is grounded in empirical findings and cross-disciplinary insights, and offers testable predictions for future research.