chap 6 key terms

Question 1

alpha waves

Answer 1

Alpha waves- The brainwave pattern seen in an electroencephalogram (EEG) that is typical of formal resting wakefulness, usually with eyes closed, or when a person is practicing a meditative state of awareness; characterised by moderately high amplitude and moderate frequency.

Question 2

altered states of consciousness (ASC)

Answer 2

Altered states of consciousness (ASC)- A psychological state that is characteristically different from normal waking consciousness, including altered levels of self-awareness, perceptions, emotions, sense of reality, orientation in time or space, responsiveness to stimuli, and memorability, including sleep; may be drug induced.

Question 3

beta waves

Answer 3

Beta waves- Brainwaves characteristic of normal waking consciousness, with a low amplitude and high frequency.

Question 4

biological rhythm

Answer 4

Biological rhythm- A cyclical natural rhythm our body follows to perform a function.

Question 5

circadian rhythm

Answer 5

Circadian Rhythm- any regular, automatic variation in physiological or behavioural activity that repeats at approximately 24- hour intervals, including the sleep-wake cycle, body temperature.

Question 6

consciousness

Answer 6

Consciousness- An organisms awareness of internal or external events, including awareness of sensations, perceptions, emotions and thoughts.

Question 7

delta waves

Answer 7

Delta Waves- The lowest frequency brainwaves with high regular amplitude, characteristic of the deepest stages of non-REM sleep (stages 3 and 4)

Question 8

dreams

Answer 8

Dreams- Rich, internally generated sensory, motor, emotional and other experiences that occur most often during period of REM sleep.

Question 9

hypnogogic state

Answer 9

Hypnogogic State- A state when alpha waves begin to present on the EEG and a person is drifting from wakefulness to sleep.

Question 10

K-complex

Answer 10

K-Complex- A short burst of high-amplitude brainwaves, experienced in stage 2 non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.

Question 11

melatonin

Answer 11

Melatonin- A hormone secreted by the pineal gland that causes drowsiness and helps to regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

Question 12

non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep

Answer 12

Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) Sleep- the 4 stages of night-time sleep in which there is no rapid eye movement (REM); characterised by increasingly deep sleep as the stages progress, during which muscles become more relaxed and physiological functions slow; evident in electroencephalograph readings that show brainwaves of decreasing frequency and increasing amplitude, producing delta waves during slow- wave sleep typical of stage 4.

Question 13

normal waking consciousness (NWC)

Answer 13

Normal Waking Consciousness (NWC)- The state of awareness we experience during wakefulness when we are aware of our surroundings and engage effectively in daily work, learning and social experiences, characterized by low-amplitude, high-frequency irregular activity in an electroencephalogram.

Question 14

Pineal Gland

Answer 14

Pineal Gland- An endocrine organ (gland) located deep within the forebrain that secretes melatonin, which regulates body rhythms and the sleep-wake cycle.

Question 15

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

Answer 15

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep- The sleep stage that occurs between stages of non-REM sleep, in which most dreaming occurs, typically accounting for between one quarter to one fifth of total sleep time; characterised by high-frequency, low-amplitude electroencephalogram readings by paralysis of skeletal muscles, also called paradoxical sleep because of the similarity in brainwave patterns with wakefulness.

Question 16

self-report

Answer 16

Self-Report- A data collection technique in which individuals are asked to freely express their attitudes (verbally or in writing) by answering questions.

Question 17

sleep

Answer 17

Sleep- A naturally occurring altered state of consciousness governed by circadian rhythms during which awareness of ourselves and the environment is suspended; characterised by a series of typical changes in sleep electroencephalogram readings, muscle tension, eye-movements and other physiological changes that accompany the different stages of sleep.

Question 18

sleep demand

Answer 18

Sleep Demand- The regulation of sleep and wakefulness through the interaction between circadian rhythms and sleep-wake homeostasis.

Question 19

sleep diary

Answer 19

Sleep Diary- A log of subjective behavioural and psychological experiences surrounding a persons sleep.

Question 20

sleep laboratory

Answer 20

Sleep Laboratory- A specialised research facility designed to study the physiological and behavioural activities that occur during sleep, equipped with specialised electronic monitors to record breathing, heart rate, brainwaves and muscle tone.

Question 21

sleep spindles

Answer 21

Sleep Spindles- A type of brain activity characterised by a short burst of high frequency brainwaves, experienced during stage 2 NREM sleep.

Question 22

slow-wave sleep (SWS)

Answer 22

Slow-Wave Sleep (SWS)- A sleep state characterised by the emergence of high-amplitude, low-frequency delta waves, experienced during stages 3 and 4 NREM sleep.

Question 23

suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

Answer 23

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)- A cluster of neurons in the hypothalamus located directly above the optic chiasm that regulates the body’s circadian rhythms, particularly the sleep-wake cycle, using information about the intensity and duration of light received from the retina via the optic nerve.

Question 24

theta waves

Answer 24

Theta Waves- A mix of brainwaves which indicate that the electrical activity in your brain is slowing and you are moving further away from consciousness.

Question 25

ultradian rhythm

Answer 25

Ultradian Rhythm- A biological rhythm that follow a cycle of less than 24 hours and determines the timing and duration of our sleep states.

Question 26

zeitgeber

Answer 26

Zeitgeber- An external cue such as light, temperature, noise or food that influences the activation or timing of a biological rhythm, such as the circadian sleep-wake cycle; from German meaning ‘time giver’.