Somnopsia Syndrome Visual Integration and Dream Physiology after Sight Restoration

This preprint proposes Somnopsia Syndrome (Changotra, 2026), a falsifiable theoretical framework examining what happens in dreams when newly acquired visual imagery in late sight-restored individuals converges with their pre-existing, heightened non-visual sensory-emotional memory system. Organized into a three-level hypothesis hierarchy with explicit refutation criteria, the paper outlines potential neurophysiological and autonomic mechanisms during REM nightmares, evaluates clinical implications for vulnerable populations, and provides concrete research protocols for future sight-restoration cohorts.