Conciousness

Question 1

Circadian rhythms

Answer 1

Variations in physiological processes that cycle within approximately a 24 hr period

Many physiological systems, including the sleep-wake cycle, feeding, hormone production and cellular regeneration vary on a circadian basis

Generated internally although seem to follow external cycle of day

Question 2

Free-running rhythms

Answer 2

After a period of days or weeks of living in a time free environment display a free running rhythm of their own biological clock

Question 3

Ultraradian rhythms

Answer 3

Cycles that are less than a day in length

Ie. rhythmic pattern in the brain during sleep is approximately 90mins

Question 4

Rapid eye movement

Answer 4

Eyes moving rapidly under the eyelid during sleep

Accompanied by a specific patter of rapid EEG activity as well as low muscle tension

Question 5

Beta waves

Answer 5

Brain activity characterized by rapid waves called beta waves when we are awake

Question 6

Alpha waves

Answer 6

Occurs when we are awake but relaxed and drowsy

Also occur during R.E.M. Sleep, which is why it is also called paradoxical sleep

Question 7

Non-rem sleep

Answer 7

Only 15-20 of our sleep is R.E.M.

Non-rem

Stage 1: brain waves change to theta waves (slower than alpha). Sensory curtains drop and so does responsiveness. Light sleep

Question 8

Stage 1 of non-rem

Answer 8

brain waves change to theta waves (slower than alpha).
Sensory curtains drop and so does responsiveness.
Light sleep and not much needed to awaken

Question 9

Stage 2 of non-rem

Answer 9

Occurs after about 7 mins in stage 1
Deeper stage requiring more intense sensory stimulation for arousal than stage 1
Predominantly theta waves
Also includes short periods of extremely fast and somewhat higher energy sleep spindles
Other unique marker is high energy k-complexes

Question 10

Stage 3 of non-rem

Answer 10

Initially consists of theta waves, then more delta waves appear and fewer sleep spindles and k complexes

Question 11

Stage 4 of non-rem

Answer 11

Occurs when there is complete absence of sleep spindles and k complexes
Contain highest proportion of slow delta waves
Aka slow wave sleep
Shortly after entering stage 4, go back to sleep spindles and k complexes of stage 3, then theta waves of 2 and 1
When we return to stage one our eyelids start to move again, then in R.E.M. And actively dreaming

Non-rem periods are shorter than rem
4-6 cycles of non-rem and rem every night in 90min cycles

Question 12

Acoustic arousal threshold

Answer 12

Amount of sound required to awake someone

Largest in stage 4

Question 13

Dreams

Answer 13

The succession of images, thoughts, and feelings we experience while asleep

Loosely connected by unusual association and not well recalled afterward

Question 14

Continuity hypothesis

Answer 14

That the content of our dreams is related to events during our waking life

Question 15

Psychoanalytic theory

Answer 15

Freud: the royal road to the unconscious

Dreams operate on 2 distinct levels of consciousness

Manifest level: the dream that we consciously recall after waking up is only the surface level

Latent level: deeper, unconscious level where the true meaning of the dream lies

Question 16

Memory consolidation theory

Answer 16

Dreams are not that different from every day thinking

Standard processes such as imagery, memory etc operate in a similar manner during dreaming

Amount of time spent in rem sleep is longer after a period of new learning

Deprivation of rem can impair certain memory tasks, and block synaptic plasticity that accompanies new learning

Question 17

Restoration theory

Answer 17

That we sleep in order for cells in our body to physically restore themselves

Question 18

Sleep disorders

Answer 18

Insomnia, sleep apnea, sleep walking, narcolepsy, hypersomnia

Question 19

Insomnia

Answer 19

Taking longer than 20 mins to fall asleep, having trouble staying asleep or not feeling rested after a nights sleep for 2 or more consecutive weeks

Affects 15-20% of adults

Drug treatments increase GABA activity

Question 20

Sleep apnea

Answer 20

Temporary blockage of airway during sleep

Rarely fall into deep sleep and are sleep deprived

Question 21

Narcolepsy

Answer 21

Excessive daytime sleepiness

May also experience cataplexy (weakness of facial and limb muscles)

May come from deficiency of orexin

Show abnormality in sleep spindles and disruption of rem sleeping patterns

Genetic basis

Question 22

Hypersomnia

Answer 22

When a person sleeps more than 10 hrs per day for 2 weeks or more

Strong urges to nap

Question 23

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

Answer 23

Located in the hypothalamus and regulates physiological activity on daily cycles

Internal timekeeper

Light stimulates retina which stimulates SCN and signals pineal gland to decrease melatonin

Question 24

Hypnosis

Answer 24

A state of mind that occurs in compliance with instruction and is characterized by focused attention, suggestibility, absorption and local of voluntary control over behaviour and suspension of critical faculties of mind

15% of population hypnotizable