psy exam 3 chapter 5 Flashcards
What is consciousness?
It is your awareness of your internal states (thoughts, sensations, memories) and the external world around you. It’s the ability to subjectively experience and be aware of yourself and your surroundings
Main characteristics of consciousness
Subjective and private: Unique to you
Dynamic (Ever-Changing): thoughts sensations and feelings come and go, like a river
Self Reflective: its your thinking and you can think about it
Connected to selective attention: limited by what you pay attention to
EEG Machine
Electroencephalograph: a device that used electrodes placed on the scalp to measure activity in the brain. Used to study sleep stages, brain disorders, and monitor brain activity during surgery.
Circadian Rhythms
24 hour biological cycles that regulate a wide range of bud functions, including sleep, hormone release, body temp and cell regeneration
SCN
The master clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, is a tiny cluster of nerve cells in the hypothalamus. Controls your bodys clock.
Light and the SCN
The SCN recieves info about light levels from the eyes, when its dark the scn signals to the pineal gland to release melatonin.
Melatonin
A hormone that increases feelings of drowsiness and helps regulate your sleep wake cycle
Ignoring Circadian Rhythms
Consequences: disrupting your natural sleep-wake cycle can lead to;
Sleepiness and fatigue
Impaired cognitive function (concentration, memory, decision-making
Mood disturbances (irritability, increased stress)
Weakened immune system
Increased risk of accidents and errors
Long-term health problems (obesity, diabetes, heart disease)
Jet Lag
A temporary sleep disorder that occurs when your body’s internal clock is out of sync with the time zone you’re in.
East vs West Jet Lag
Its harder to adjust when traveling east (losing time) because you have to go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier. Traveling west (gaining time) is easier because its like delaying your circadian rhythm.
Sleep stages
Non-rem:
-stage 1: light sleep, easy to awake, brain waves slow down, may have muscle twitches
-stage 2: brain waves become even slower, sleep spindles(bursts of activity) appear
-stage 3 (slow wave sleep): deepest sleep, very slow delta brain waves, difficult to awaken, important for physical restoration and growth.
REM (Rapid Eye Movement):
-Brain activity increases
-Heart rate and breathing become faster, muscles become paralyzed
-Vivid dreams typically occur during REM sleep
Age difference in sleep
-Infants and children need the most sleep
-Adolescents prefer to stay up late and sleep in
-Adults generally need less sleep but experience more fragmented sleep and less deep sleep
Cultural differences in sleep and dreams
Sleep practices: some cultures nap, some cultures have parents and children sleeping in the same bed, sleep schedules also vary
Dream Interpretation: different cultures have unique beliefs about the significance and meaning of dreams.
Effects of sleep deprivation
Cognitive impairment (Reduced attention span, poor memory and learning)
Emotional effects (irritability, mood swings, stress, anxiety)
Physical effects (Weak immune system, increased risk of obesity diabetes and heart disease. Impaired motor coordination and microsleeps)
REM Rebound
If you are deprived of REM sleep your body will try to catch up by spending more time in REM sleep the next time you sleep
Slow-wave-rebound:
If you are deprived of slow-wave sleep, your body will prioritize this stage during subsequent sleep periods
