Ch 4 Powerpoint Flashcards
What is consciousness?
Awareness of internal and external stimuli such as feelings of hunger and pain or detection of light.
Define wakefulness.
High levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior.
What is a biological rhythm?
An internal cycle of biological activity including fluctuations of body temperature, menstrual cycle, and levels of alertness.
What is circadian rhythm?
Biological rhythm that occurs over approximately 24 hours.
What generates the circadian rhythm?
Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).
What is the role of the hypothalamus in biological rhythms?
Maintaining homeostasis, the tendency to maintain a balance within a biological system.
What regulates the sleep-wake cycle?
The brain’s control of switching between sleep and wakefulness as well as coordinating this cycle with the outside world.
What is melatonin?
A hormone released by the pineal gland that regulates sleep-wake cycles, stimulated by darkness, and inhibited by daylight.
What are jet lag symptoms?
Fatigue, sluggishness, irritability, and insomnia.
What is sleep debt?
Result of insufficient sleep on a chronic basis.
What is sleep rebound?
A sleep-deprived individual will tend to take a shorter time to fall asleep during subsequent opportunities for sleep.
What are the sleep needs for newborns (0-3 months)?
Recommended: 14–17 hours; May be appropriate: 11–13 hours; Not recommended: fewer than 11 hours or more than 19 hours.
What characterizes Stage 1 sleep?
Transitional phase between wakefulness and sleep, with alpha waves.
What are sleep spindles?
Rapid bursts of high-frequency brainwaves during Stage 2 sleep.
What are delta waves?
Low frequency, high amplitude brainwaves associated with slow-wave sleep.
What occurs during REM sleep?
Rapid eye movements, paralysis of voluntary muscles, and dreams.
What is a hypnogram?
A diagram of the stages of sleep as they occur during a period of sleep.
What did Sigmund Freud believe about dreams?
Dreams are a way to gain access to the unconscious, with manifest content and latent content.
Define insomnia.
Difficulty falling or staying asleep for at least 3 nights a week for at least one month.
What are parasomnias?
Unwanted motor behavior/experiences throughout the sleep cycle, including sleepwalking and night terrors.
What is sleep apnea?
Occurs when individuals stop breathing during sleep, leading to repeated disruptions in sleep.
What is narcolepsy?
An irresistible urge to fall asleep during waking hours, often triggered by stress.
What is substance use disorder?
A compulsive pattern of drug use despite negative consequences.
What are stimulants?
Drugs that increase overall levels of neural activity, often dopamine agonists.
What is the effect of depressants on the body?
Suppress central nervous system activity, leading to decreased heart rate and blood pressure.
What is GABA?
A neurotransmitter that has a quieting effect on the brain.
Fill in the blank: The __________ nucleus serves as the brain’s clock mechanism.
suprachiasmatic
True or False: Bright light can help realign our biological clocks with the external environment.
True
What are the effects of sleep deprivation on cognition?
Disruptions in cognition and memory deficits that become more severe with increased sleep deprivation.
What effect does activating a GABA neuron have on the brain?
A quieting effect on the brain.
What are stimulants?
Substances that increase overall levels of neural activity.
What is a common mechanism of action for dopamine agonists?
Preventing the reuptake of dopamine.
List four examples of stimulants.
- Cocaine
- Amphetamine
- Cathinones (i.e., bath salts)
- MDMA
What are the side effects of stimulants?
- Nausea
- Elevated blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Feelings of anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
How do cocaine and amphetamines affect dopamine levels?
They block the reuptake of dopamine from the synapse into the presynaptic cell.
What role does caffeine play as a stimulant?
Antagonizes adenosine activity, increasing alertness and arousal.
What neurotransmitter receptors does nicotine interact with?
Acetylcholine receptors.
What are opioids used for?
Serve as analgesics (decrease pain).
List four examples of opioids.
- Heroin
- Morphine
- Methadone
- Codeine
What are hallucinogens known to cause?
Changes in sensory and perceptual experiences.
What are two types of hallucinogens and their mechanisms?
- Mescaline and LSD (serotonin agonists)
- PCP and ketamine (NMDA glutamate receptor antagonists)
What is hypnosis?
An extreme focus on the self involving suggested changes of behavior and experience.
What are some uses of hypnosis?
- Pain management
- Treatment of depression and anxiety
- Quitting smoking
- Weight loss
True or False: Individuals undergoing hypnosis are not in control of their own behaviors.
False.
What is meditation?
The act of focusing on a single target to increase awareness of the moment.
What benefits does meditation show promise in?
- Stress management
- Sleep quality
- Pain management
- Treatment of mood and anxiety disorders
