Module 1.5-1.6 Sleep and senses Flashcards
our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment
consciousness
the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating)
Cognitive neuroscience
the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
dual processing
a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it
blindsight
processing multiple aspects of a stimulus or problem simultaneously
parallel processing
processing one aspect of a stimulus or problem at a time; generally used to process new information or to solve difficult problems
sequential processing
our biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (such as sleep and wakefulness) that occur in a 24-hour cycle.
Circadian rhythm
a sleep stage when vivid dreams commonly occur
REM sleep
Relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, but awake state
Alpha waves
false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus
hallucinations
bizarre experiences, such as jerking or a feeling of falling, while transitioning into sleep
hypnagogic sensations
the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep
Delta waves
a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls your circadian rhythm. In response to light it adjusts melatonin production, modifying our feeling of sleepiness
suprachiasmatic nucleus
a sleep disorder characterized by ongoing difficulty falling or staying asleep
insomnia
a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The affected person may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times
narcolepsy
a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings
sleep apnea
a sleep disorder in which normal REM paralysis does not occur; instead, twitching, talking or even kicking or punching may occur, often acting out one’s dream.
REM sleep behavior disorder
the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation
REM rebound
Theory that dreams help us sort out the day’s events and consolidate our memories
Information processing/consolidation
Dream theory that regular brain stimulation may help develop and preserve neural pathways in the brain
Physiological function
Dream theory that the brain attempts to make sense of neural “static” by weaving it into a storyline
Neural activation
Theory that dreams reflect the dreamers’ level of development, their knowledge and understanding
Cognitive development
Type of Brian waves when person is fully awake, alert and functioning
Beta Waves
bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain-wave activity that aid memory processing during NREM-2 sleep
Sleep spindles
Brain wave form seen during NREM-2 sleep
K-complexes
Type of waves seen during REM sleep
Irregular Delta waves
scientific term for sleepwalking, happens during stage 3 sleep
Somnambulism
sensory nerve endings that respond to stimuli
sensory receptors
information processing that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain’s integration of sensory information
Bottom-up processing
information processing guided by higher level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations
top-down processing
The conversion of one form of energy to another. Such as transforming physical energy into neural impulses
transduction
the study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, and our psychological experience of them
psychophysics
The minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time
absolute threshold
a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background stimulation
signal detection theory
the minimum difference between 2 stimuli required for detection 50% of the time.
Difference threshold
the principle that, to be perceived as different, 2 stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage
Weber’s law
diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation
sensory adaptation
the amount of energy in a light wave or sound wave, which influences what we perceive as brightness or loudness. Determined by a waves amplitude
intensity
the eye’s clear, protective outer layer
cornea
the adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters
pupil
a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening
Iris
the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina
lens
the light-sensitive back inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information
retina
the theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological “gate” that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain.
gate-control theory
our sense of taste
gustation
our sense of smell
olfaction
our movement sense; our system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts
kinesthesis
our balance sense; our system for sensing the position and movement that enables our sense of balance
vestibular sense
the principle that one sense can influence another, as when the smell of food influences its taste
sensory interaction
the influence of bodily sensations, gestures, and other states on cognitive preferences and judgements
embodied cognition
the sense or act of hearing
audition
what part of sound waves determines pitch?
frequency
the chamber between the eardrum and the cochlea containing 3 tiny bones that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea’s oval window
middle ear
a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear; sound waves travelling through the cochlear fluid trigger nerve impulses
cochlea
the innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs.
inner ear
the most common form of hearing loss, caused by damage to the cochlea’s receptor cells or to the auditory nerve, also called nerve deafness
sensorineural hearing loss
a less common form of hearing loss, caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea
conduction hearing loss
in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea’s membrane is stimulated
place theory
in hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense it’s pitch
frequency theory
the process by which the eye’s lens changes shape to focus images of near or far objects on the retina
accomodation
retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray, and are sensitive to movement. Necessary for twilight vision
rods
retinal receptors that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-light conditions. Detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations
cones
the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain
optic nerve
the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, where no receptor cells are located
blind spot
the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye’s cones cluster
fovea
the theory that the retina contains 3 types of color receptors which, when stimulated in combination, can produce the perception of any color
Young-Helmholtz trichromatic (three-color) theory
the theory that opposing retinal processes enable color vision.
opponent-process theory
nerve cells in the brains visual cortex that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle or movement
feature detectors
processing multiple aspects of a stimulus or problem simultaneously
parallel processing
