Dream science 2000: A response to commentaries on Dreaming and the brain

Definitions of dreaming are not required to snap formal features of mental activity onto brain measures. While dreaming occurs during all stages of sl eep, intense dreaming is largely confined to REM. Forebrain structures and many neurotransmitters can contribute to sleep and dreaming without negatin g brainstem and aminergic-cholinergic control mechanisms. Reductionism is e ssential to science and AIM leas considerable heuristic value. Recent findi ngs support sleeps role in learning and memory. Emerging technologies mad a ddress long-standing issues in sleep and dream research.