11.02 Sleep Flashcards
describes any biological rhythm that takes one day to complete
circadian
brain structure that controls the sleep-wake cycle; the hormones it regulates are also involved in body temperature, thirst, hunger, moods, and sex drive
hypothalamus
the light-sensitive structure within the hypothalamus that acts as an internal clock, letting people know when to fall asleep and when to wake up
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
hormone secreted by the pineal gland, under the control of the SCN; though it is naturally occurring in the body, supplements can be used to treat jet lag
melatonin
high levels of melatonin cause the body to __; low levels of melatonin cause the body to __
sleep; awaken
brief “sidesteps” into sleep that last just seconds
microsleeps
three benefits of sleep for the brain
- enhances synaptic connections
- strengthens memories
- increases the plasticity of the brain
theory of sleep that states that sleep is a product of evolution that helps potential prey to avoid the active time of predators
adaptive theory of sleep
theory of sleep that states that sleep is vital to the physical health of the body, it provides time for growth and repair
restorative theory of sleep
two main stages of sleep
REM and NREM
rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement
two characteristics of NREM sleep
- deeper, restful sleep
- muscle movement common
five characteristics of REM sleep
- psychologically active
- dreaming
- little muscle movement (sleep paralysis)
- activation of the sympathetic nervous system
- occurs up to five times a night, in intervals of about 30 minutes
test that is used during sleep studies to record the brain-wave activity of sleepers
electroencephalogram (EEG)
four types of brain waves (that we’ve studied)
alpha, beta, delta, theta
brain waves that occur when a person is awake and mentally active
beta waves
brain waves that occur when a person is relaxed and drowsy
alpha waves
brain waves that occur when a person is in a light sleep
theta waves
brain waves that occur when a person is in a deep sleep
delta waves
three stages of NREM sleep
N1, N2, N3
characteristics of N1 sleep
drowsiness; theta waves; five minutes when body temperature drops, muscles relax, you lose awareness but are easily jarred awake
characteristics of N2 sleep
light sleep; sleep spindles and K-complexes
characteristics of N3 sleep
deep sleep; renewal and repair; immune system activated; growth hormone released; vital processes slow down; occurs several times in 30 minute stretches; large, slow delta waves
EEG pattern that occurs during the N2 stage and might represent a vigilance system that can wake us up, if we are prompted by an environmental change (meaning the possibility of danger)
K-complex
extreme muscle weakness that can occur during REM
atonia
bad dreams, more common in children, often remembered upon waking
nightmares
rare disorder in which people can act out nightmares because their voluntary muscles remain active during REM sleep
REM behavior disorder
state of panic experienced during NREM sleep, more common in children, occurs during N3
night terrors
an episode of moving around in one’s sleep, more common in male children, occurs during N3
sleepwalking/somnambulism
inability to get to sleep, stay asleep, or get good quality sleep; can result from physiological or psychological conditions
insomnia
disorder that causes a person to stop breathing for 10 seconds or more during sleep
sleep apnea
disorder in which a person falls immediately into REM sleep during the day, without warning
narcolepsy
three psychological approaches to dreaming
- psychoanalysis
- activation-synthesis hypothesis
- activation-information-mode
characteristics of the psychoanalytic hypothesis of dreaming
dreams are…
- fulfillments of unconscious desires
- highly symbolic, with certain elements having universal meanings
- a way to examine early, buried memories
- made of manifest (literal) content and latent (hidden) content
characteristics of the activation-synthesis hypothesis of dreaming
dreams are…
- products of random signals coming from the pons
- the brain’s failed attempt to interpret the random signals by mixing them with our stored memories
- a less realistic form of the thinking that we do during the day
characteristics of the activation-information-mode model of dreaming
essentially restates the activation-synthesis hypothesis, but argues that how our brains assemble dreams is not entirely random, but the result of recent experiences during our waking hours
