Which researcher believed that dreams simply reflect the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity, rather than having hidden symbolic meaning?

• A. Carl Jung
• B. Sigmund Freud
• C. J. Allan Hobson
• D. William James

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the key concept in the question: it asks about a researcher who believed dreams reflect the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity, rather than symbolic meaning.
2. Recall the main theories of dreams associated with each researcher: Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud emphasized symbolic and unconscious meanings in dreams.
3. Understand that William James focused more broadly on consciousness and experience, not specifically on dreams as random neural activity.
4. Recognize that J. Allan Hobson proposed the Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis, which suggests dreams result from the brain synthesizing random neural signals during sleep.
5. Conclude that the researcher who believed dreams reflect the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity is J. Allan Hobson.