Consciousness Flashcards
What is consciousness
One’s level of awareness of both the world and one’s own existence within that world.
What is the significance of the reticular formation?
Fibers from the prefrontal cortex communicate with the reticular formation, a neural structure located in the brainstem, to keep the cortex awake and alert.
Alpha wave
Occur when we are awake but relaxing with our eyes closed
Beta waves
A high frequency and occur when the person is alert or attending to a mental task
Theta waves
Associated with the first stage of sleep. Some of stage 2 as well. You’re falling more deeply asleep.
Delta waves
Low frequency high voltage sleep waves. From stage 3 and 4 of sleep. Hard to rouse someone from this sleep.
REM Rapid eye movement sleep
The stage where most dreaming occurs. Associated with memory consolidation. Also associated with paradoxical sleep
Dyssomnias
Disorders that make it difficult to fall, asleep, stay asleep or avoid sleep
Insomnia, narcolepsy and sleep apnea
Parasommnias
Abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep
Night terrors and sleep walking.
Usually occur during NREM sleep
NREM sleep
non-rapid eye movement sleep is dreamless sleep. During NREM, the brain waves on the electroencephalographic (EEG) recording are typically slow and of high voltage, the breathing and heart rate are slow and regular, the blood pressure is low, and the sleeper is relatively still.
Hypnagogic hallucinations
Occur when one is going to bed
Hypnopompic hallucinations
Occur when one is popping out of bed.
Dopamine in the amygdala?
Causes emotion
Dopamine in the pre-frontal cortex?
Attention and planning
Dopamine in the hippocampus
Memory formation
