Consciousness

[Alan V]

Activity in different parts of the brain might produce different types of dreams.

As one example, lucid dreaming, during which we realize we are dreaming, has been shown to be correlated with a partial reactivation of the DLPFC.

Also, there is a certain threshold, a certain amount of activation which is required to support dreaming. Even NREM periods late in the sleep cycle can have enough activation to support dreaming very similar to REM dreaming, though reports are shorter.

However, I would say from my reading that beyond the activation of certain areas, dreaming is a combination bottom-up and top-down process, a self-reinforcing loop.