scanning hypothesis

the speculative notion that rapid eye movements during REM sleep may correspond to subjective gaze shifts of the sleeper looking at a dream scene. Such eye movement are, however, generally very repetitive, unlike normal eye movements in an awake individual who is visually fixating on a specific object or scene.

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Psychology term of the day

February 17th 2025

speculation

1. conjectural thinking that is not necessarily supported by scientifically determined evidence.

2. a loosely supported theory or explanation. —speculative adj.