The phenomenon of seeing things in dreams is primarily studied within the field of psychology, specifically in the subfield of dream research. While physics can provide some understanding of the underlying mechanisms of vision, it does not directly address the specific experience of seeing things in dreams.
During dreaming, the brain generates a variety of sensory experiences, including visual imagery. These visual experiences can be vivid and lifelike, often resembling real-world perception. However, the precise mechanisms behind dream vision are not yet fully understood.
One prominent theory in psychology suggests that dreaming is a result of the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity during sleep. This theory proposes that the brain constructs narratives or scenarios to explain the seemingly random firing of neurons. Within this framework, the visual imagery experienced during dreams can be seen as a product of the brain's attempt to create a coherent narrative.
While physics can provide insights into how light is detected by the eyes and processed by the brain to create visual perception, the specific mechanisms by which dream imagery is generated are still the subject of ongoing scientific research. Understanding the intricacies of dreams requires interdisciplinary approaches that draw from fields such as psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science, rather than relying solely on physics.