Chapter 7 KEY TERMS

Question 1

Alpha brain wave pattern

Answer 1

Associated with a relaxed, calm, internally focussed wakeful state of consciousness, especially if eyes are closed

Question 2

Altered state of consciousness

Answer 2

any state of consciousness that is distinctly different from normal waking
consciousness or any waking state in terms of level of awareness and experience

Question 3

Arousal threshold

Answer 3

An individual’s sensitivity to being woken from a sleep state

Question 4

Biological clock

Answer 4

innate timing that regulates one or more biological rhythms

Question 5

Biological rhythm

Answer 5

a naturally occurring cycle of physiological, psychological or behavioural changes;

Question 6

Beta brain wave pattern

Answer 6

associated with alertness and intensive mental activity during normal waking consciousness;

Question 7

Brain wave

Answer 7

an electrical impulse in the brain

Question 8

Brain wave pattern

Answer 8

patterns of electrical activity occurring in the brain

Question 9

Consciousness

Answer 9

our awareness of internal events and external surroundings

Question 10

Circadian rhythm

Answer 10

a biological rhythm involving physiological, psychological or behavioural changes that occur as part of a cycle with a duration of about 24 hours;

Question 11

Deep sleep

Answer 11

a period of sleep when the heart rate and breathing slow to their lowest levels, muscles are completely relaxed with barely any body movement and no eye movements

Question 12

Delta brain wave pattern

Answer 12

associated with deep, dreamless sleep or unconsciousness

Question 13

EEG

Answer 13

Detects, amplifies, and records electrical activity in the brain

Question 14

EMG

Answer 14

Detects, amplifies, and records electrical activity in the skeletal muscles

Question 15

EOG

Answer 15

Detects, amplifies, and records electrical activity in the muscles of the eyes

Question 16

Endogenous

Answer 16

originating within and organism

Question 17

Exogenous

Answer 17

originating outside an organism

Question 18

Hypnogram

Answer 18

a sleep graph typically showing sleep types and stages in relation to time

Question 19

Induced state of consciousness

Answer 19

a temporary change in one’s normal mental state without being considered unconscious

Question 20

Light sleep

Answer 20

the transitional stage between waking and sleeping

Question 21

Melatonin

Answer 21

a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in relation to the amount of light that is detected; influences alertness and drowsiness and timing of the sleep–wake cycle; a higher melatonin level is associated with greater drowsiness and
vice versa

Question 22

Naturally occuring state

Answer 22

altered states of consciousness such as sleep, dreaming during sleep and daydreaming when awake, that are naturally occurring in the course of everyday activities without the need for any aid

Question 23

Normal waking consciousness

Answer 23

state of consciousness associated with being awake and aware of objects and events in the external world, and of one’s sensations, mental experiences and own existence

Question 24

NREM sleep

Answer 24

non-rapid eye movement sleep with three stages involving increasingly deeper sleep

Question 25

Psychological construct

Answer 25

a concept that can not be directly observed or measured but is widely understood to exist

Question 26

REM sleep

Answer 26

rapid eye movement sleep

Question 27

Sleep

Answer 27

a regularly occurring altered state of consciousness that typically occurs naturally and is primarily characterised
by partial or total suspension of conscious awareness

Question 28

Sleep diary

Answer 28

a self-report record of an individual’s sleep and waking time activities

Question 29

Sleep episode

Answer 29

an interval of sleep that may be voluntary or involuntary

Question 30

Sleep latency

Answer 30

the length of time it takes to transition from being awake to being asleep

Question 31

Sleep onset

Answer 31

the transition period from being awake to being asleep

Question 32

Sleep-wake cycle

Answer 32

the 24 hour daily sleep pattern which
consists of approximately 16 hours of daytime wakefulness and 8 hours of night-time sleep

Question 33

Sleep-wake pattern

Answer 33

sleep-wake cycle

Question 34

States of consciousness

Answer 34

the different states of awareness that we experience

Question 35

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

Answer 35

an area of the brain’s hypothalamus that regulates the timing and activity of the sleep–wake cycle (and other biological rhythms)

Question 36

Theta brain wave pattern

Answer 36

associated with drowsiness, falling asleep and creative activities

Question 37

Ultradian rhythm

Answer 37

a biological rhythm involving physiological, psychological or behavioural changes that occur as part of a cycle shorter than 24 hours; compare with circadian rhythm

Question 38

Video monitoring

Answer 38

one or more video cameras to monitor and record externally observable physiological responses throughout a sleep episode