AP Psychology Unit 5 Terms Flashcards
An awareness of ourselves and our environment
Consciousness
The biological clock; regular body rhythms that occur on a 24 hour cycle
Circadian Rhythm
Rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep because the muscles are relaxed but other body systems are active
REM Sleep
The relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state
Alpha Waves
Periodic, natural loss of consciousness; distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, anesthesia, or hibernation
Sleep
False sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus
Hallucinations
The large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep
Delta Waves
Non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep
NREM Sleep
Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep
Insomnia
A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inappropriate times
Narcolepsy
A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings
Sleep Apnea
A sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, they occur during stage 4 sleep and are seldom remembered
Night Terrors
A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind. They are noted for hallucinatory imagery, discontinuities and incongruities, and for the delusional acceptance of the content and difficulties remembering it
Dream
According to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream
Manifest Content
According to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream
Latent Content
The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation
REM Rebound
A social interaction in which one person suggests to another that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur
Hypnosis
A suggestion made during a hypnosis session, to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized; used by some clinicians to help control undesired symptoms and behaviors
Posthypnotic Suggestion
A split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others
Dissociation
A chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods
Psychoactive Drug
The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effect
Tolerance
The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug
Withdrawal
A physiological need for a drug, marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued
Physical Dependence
A psychological need to use a drug, such as to relieve negative emotions
Psychological Dependence
Compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences
Addiction
Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions
Depressants
Drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement
Barbiturates
Opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxeity
Opiates
Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions
Stimulants
Drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing sped up body functions and associated energy and mood changes
Amphetamines
A powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system with sped up body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels
Methamphetamine
A synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short term health risks and longer term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition
Ecstasy
Psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input
Hallucinogens
A powerful hallucinogenic drug, also known as acid
LSD
An altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death; often similar to drug-induced hallucinations
Near-Death Experience
The major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations
THC
