5:23 - sleep patterns/theories Flashcards
circadian rhythm
an internal biological clock in sync with the cycle of night in day
when do body temps change?
rise in the morning, peak in the day, dip in the early afternoon, and drop in the evening.
owls
most eens and YAs - evening energized with performance rising across the day
larks
most older adults - more energized in the morning and performance declines as the day goes on
women are more morning-orientated beause of…
menopause and bearing children
alpha waves
slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state
NREM-1
- the transition into sleep
- hallucinations occur
NREM-2
- sleep spindles (rapid bursts of rythmic activity
- could easily awake
- lasts 20 minutes and grows longer through the night
NREM-3
- brain emits large and slow delta waves
- hard to awaken
- “delta sleep”
- lasts 30 minutes
- grows shorter and eventually disapears
REM sleep
- lasts ten minutes
- an hour after falling asleep
- sharp, rapid brain waves
- heart rises
- breathing is rapid and irregular
- vivid dreams
- aka pandoxical sleep because body is aroused internally but externally calm
- minor twitches
- eyes dart around ever 30 seconds
- eye movement starts dreams
- genitals become aroused
- brain’s motor cortex is active, but the brainstem blocks messages
- paralyzed
- grows longer through the night (20-25% of a night’s sleep is spent in REM)
what are sleep patterns influenced by?
genetics and culture
superachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response
to light, the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness.