Chapter 5 Pt. 1 - The Variations of Consciousness Flashcards
What is consciousness?
Awareness of internal and external events, having those experiences, and your thoughts about them
What is sleep?
Natural and reversible state of reduced responsiveness to external stimuli and relative inactivity and a loss of consciousness
What is the adaptive theory of sleeping?
We sleep when being awake is inefficient or dangerous; sleep helps us conserve our energy
What is the restorative theory of sleep?
Sleep provides an opportunity for the body to repair and rejuvenate itself
What is the memory consolidation theory of sleep?
Sleep helps restore and rebuild fading memories
What do we use to study consciousness and brain activity?
An electroencephalograph (EEG)
What is an electroencephalograph (EEG)?
A device that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time by recording electrodes
In an electroencephalograph, what do the tracings vary in?
Amplitude (height) and frequency (cycles per second)
What states of consciousness are associated with the EEG pattern Beta?
Normal waking thought, alert problem solving
What states of consciousness are associated with the EEG pattern Alpha?
Deep relaxation, blank mind, meditation
What states of consciousness are associated with the EEG pattern Theta?
Light sleep
What states of consciousness are associated with the EEG pattern Delta
Deep sleep
What is a biological rhythm?
Periodic fluctuation in physiological functioning
What is a circadian rhythm?
24-hour biological cycle found in humans and other species that influence sleep regulation, blood pressure, hormonal secretions, etc.
What is melatonin?
A hormone that helps control sleep and wake cycles and the more there is, the more tired you get
When you are exposed to blue light, what happens to your melatonin?
Makes you more awake and decreases melatonin
When you are exposed to red / yellow light, what happens to your melatonin?
Makes you more tired
What is hypnagogia?
The transition between wakefulness and sleep
At what stage of sleep does hypnagogia happen?
Stage 1
At what stage of sleep do we experience dreams?
Rapid Eye Movement (REM)
What is REM Sleep?
A deep stage of sleep where dreaming happens, features high-frequency brain waves, and hard to wake someone up from
What is the recommended number of hours of sleep for an adult (26-64 years) / young adult (18-25 years)?
7 to 9 hours
What is the recommended number of hours of sleep for an older adult (above 64 years)?
7 to 8 hours
What is the recommended number of hours of sleep for a teenager?
8 to 10 hours
