Consciousness and Sleep Flashcards
Biological Rhythms vs. Circadian Rhythms
Biological rhythms: a periodic or regular fluctuation of our biological system (eg. testosterone peaks in autumn, birds migrate, daydreaming, etc.)
Circadian rhythm: biological rhythms every 24 hours (eg. sleep-wake)
For many, alertness peaks and low points when? What other biological phenomenon is same way?
Alertness peaks in late afternoon and low points in early morning. Same as body temperature
Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
The coordinator of circadian rhythms, located in the hypothalamus.
Melatonin (secreted by, regulates __, regulated by __, when does melatonin rise and fall?)
A hormone secreted by pineal gland, regulates daily biological rhythms, regulated by the SCN.
Melatonin rises when dark environment, falls when light
Internal desynchronization
Example?
A state where biological rhythms are not in phase with each other (eg. jet lag. doesn’t just affect sleep patterns, but energy levels, motor coordination, etc.)
Are there such things as “early birds” and “night owls”
Yea! People have different circadian rhythms. “chronotypes”
How do seasonal changes affect moods?
SAD (not in DSM-5 btw), is caused by out of sync circadian rhythms. Maybe daytime melatonin levels too high in winter (due to less light).
What are some treatments for SAD?
Light therapy (sit in front of bright lights at specific times), antidepressants
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Individuals experience levels of depression or anxiety just before menstruation, causing impaired daily functioning. Affects 2% to 6% of menstruating individuals.
Expectation and premenstrual mood symptoms
People asked to recall their moods over-exaggerated them compared to what they rated them on a daily basis. expectations influence moods.
Alpha waves
Brain waves that are emitted when we relax in bed. Wakeful state, but slowed down compared to normal alert wakefulness.
3 Stages of sleep.
How long?
Stage 1: drifting on the edge of consciousness. might have fantasies or visual images if awakened during this stage.
Stage 2: short bursts of rapid high-peak waves called sleep spindles.
Stage 3: emits delta waves; slow with high peaks. deep sleep. muscles relaxed, breathing and pulse slow. most likely phase for sleep-walking.
30 to 45 minutes. Then goes back to 2 to 1, which is around 70 to 90.
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep
(when it occurs, what type of waves, what happens to body, average time)
Happens when going back to stage 1 after going through the cycle (1 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 1).
Emits long bursts of rapid and irregular waves. Blood pressure and heart rate increase, breathing faster, small twitches. May have genitals stimulated (penis erect, vaginal lubrication increase).
Average 20 minutes long.
Dream reports occurred how often when awakened during REM compared to non-REM sleep?
Difference in characteristics of the dreams?
82% in REM, 51% in non-REM.
But non-REM dreams tend to be shorter, less vivid, and more realistic.
Sleep paralysis
When in REM sleep but the muscle paralysis characteristic has not worn off. They are in a ‘waking dream’. Waking, not dreaming.
Some people interpret the experiences literally and believe they are haunted by ghosts or visited by aliens.
As the hours pass, what happens to the order of sleep periods? duration?
It alternates between REM and non-REM sleep periods throughout the night, sometimes randomly skipping between. REM periods get longer while non-REM get shorter (might explain why we more likely to be dreaming when waking up).
Chronic sleep deprivation effects on: cortisol, brain cells, and other effects?
Increases the stress hormone levels
New brain cells fail to develop or are abnormal
mental flexibility, attention, mood, creativity diminished.
Sleep Apnea
disorder where breathing stops briefly during sleep, which causes one to gasp when awakened.
