psyc midterm chapter 5

Question 1

What Is the Circadian Rhythm?

Answer 1

Changes occur on a roughly 24-h basis in many of our biological processes.

Question 2

What are potential impacts of ongoing sleep deprivation?

Answer 2

Affects hormone release, weight gain for women, increased high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems and less vigorous immune response to viral infections.

Question 3

What’s Kleine-Levin syndrome?

Answer 3

Rare neurological condition, “sleeping beauty” disorder. Repeatedly sleeping and not regaining consciousness or responding to bodily functions (bathroom, eating)

Question 4

What is the difference between REM sleep and non-REM sleep?

Answer 4

Non-REM sleep- stages 1 to 4 in the sleep cycle, during which rapid eye movements do not occur and dreaming is less frequent and vivid.REM sleep- when the brain is most active and most vivid dreaming takes place.

Question 5

What are the specific characteristics of REM sleep?(e.g., in what stage of sleep do we tend to see theta waves?).

Answer 5

Our hyped brain waves during REM sleep are accompanied by increased heart rate and blood pressure, as well rapid and irregular breathing, this state that occupies about 20-25% of our nights sleep. There will be 50% more delta waves.

Question 6

Be able to describe and explain the five stages of sleep.

Answer 6

Stage 1- brief transitional stage, changes to theta waves, myoclonic jerks and hypnagogic imagery occur in this stage.
Stage 2- characterized by sleep spindles and K-complexes, heart rate slows, body temperature decreases, muscles relax, eye movement ceases.
Stage 3 and 4- “slow wave” sleep, deep sleep characterized by delta waves, important for us to feel rested. Both stages are delta waves.
Stage 5- occupies 20-25% of our nights sleep, cycles of REM sleep last between 20 min to 1 hour.

Question 7

Explain the different types of brain waves that occur within each stage of sleep

Answer 7

Stage 1- theta waves
Stage 2- sleep spindles and k complexes
Stage 3 and 4- delta waves
Stage 5- REM sleep

Question 8

What are the differences between the various brain waves seen during sleep. For
example, how many cycles per second are theta waves vs. delta waves)?

Answer 8

Stage 1 in this stage of sleep, which lasts for five to ten minutes, our brain activity powers down by 50% or more, producing theta waves, which occur four to seven times per second. These waves are slower than the beta waves of 13 or more times per second produced during active alert states and the alpha waves of 8 to 12 times pers second when quiet and relaxed. Stage 3 is 20-50% delta waves, whereas stage 4 is 50+% delta waves.

Question 9

What Are sleep spindles? What stage of sleep do they occur? are delta waves? What sleep stages do they occur?

Answer 9

Sleep spindles = Stage 2 sleep (helps with memory and blocking distractions).
Delta waves = Stage 3 and 4 sleep (deep, restorative sleep).

Question 10

What Is lucid dreaming?

Answer 10

Being aware that you are dreaming.

Question 11

What Is insomnia? What is insomnia characterized by?

Answer 11

Having trouble falling asleep, waking up too early, waking up during the night and trouble returning.

Question 12

What Is narcolepsy? What is narcolepsy characterized by? Whatis sleep apnea?

Answer 12

A disorder in which people experience episodes of sudden sleep, genetic factors, specific types of brain damage and lack of the hormone orexin. Often they entre REM sleep periodically so their muscles relax causing them to fall down, looks like they are passing out.

Question 13

What Are night terrors?

Answer 13

Sudden waking episodes characterized by screaming, perspiring and confusion, occurs mainly in children.

Question 14

What Is the dream protection theory?

Answer 14

dreams “protect” us by turning uncomfortable or unconscious thoughts into harmless, often bizarre dream scenarios.

Question 15

What Is manifest content vs latent content.

Answer 15

Dreams require interpretation to reverse the dream-work and reveal their true meaning. Freud distinguished between the details of the dream itself, which he called the manifest content and its true hidden meaning, which he called latent content.
For example a dream about getting a flat tire (manifest content) might signify anxiety about a loss of status at one’s job (latent content)

Question 16

What Is the activation-synthesis theory? How does it work in the brain?

Answer 16

Brain activates in semi-chaotic way, dreams are attempt to make sense of random neural signals that occur mostly during REM.Those dreams reflect the activated brain’s attempt to make sense of random and internally generated neural signals during REM sleep.a way of our forebrain trying to make up reasoning of neutral activity.

Question 17

Which parts of the brain are crucial for dreaming?

Answer 17

forebrain

Question 18

What is the neurocognitive theory of dreaming?

Answer 18

Dreams are stimulations of ourselves in different scenarios to explore possible outcomes. (stress, future experiences, interactions, stimulations to events.

Question 19

What is the dream continuity hypothesis?

Answer 19

The more we experience the more you may dream on one specific topic.

Question 20

Be able to compare and contrast the three major modern theories of dreaming
(e.g., dream protection theory, activation-synthesis theory, and neurocognitive theory).

Answer 20

Neurocognitive- theory that dreams are support by the brains default network and are meaningful product of our cognitive capacities, which shape what we dream about.
Dream protection- some parts of the brain
Activation synthesis- Theory that dreams reflect inputs from the brain activation originating at the pons, which the forebrain then attempts to weave into a story.

Question 21

Know information regarding how science explains alterations of consciousness and unusual experiences such as hallucinations, out-of-body experiences (OBE), near-death experiences, and deja-vu. Be able to differentiate between each of these different alterations in consciousness.

Answer 21

Hallucinations- perceptual experiences in the absence of external stimuli
Out-of-body experiences- a sense of consciousness leaving out bodies, feeling of watching yourself do something.
Deja Vu- a feeling of reliving an experince that is new.
Near-death experiences- out of body experiences reported by people who have nearly died or thought they were going to die.

Question 22

Explain the various processes involved in hypnosis.

Answer 22

Begins with induction (instructions), followed by suggestions, these are the things that are suggested for a person to think or do.

Question 23

Describe the two main theories of hypnosis (dissociation vs. sociocognitive
theory).

Answer 23

Dissociation- the main part of a person is hypnotized and impacted by suggestions. While another part of the person, a hidden observer, is unaffected but only observes what is going on. (split in our personality one is being very susceptible but the other half is aware and monitoring the situation)
Social cognitive- people attitudes, beliefs, motivations and expectations about hypnosis, as well as their suggestibility, shape their responses.(expectations- you don’t believe in it, likely won’t happen or suggestibility may very)

Question 24

Describe the myths and the corresponding realities about hypnosis.

Answer 24

Hypnotic phenomena are unique- levels of suggestibility
Hypnotized people are unaware of their surroundings- most people are aware of their surroundings.

Question 25

Be able to describe what substance use disorder is.

Answer 25

Drugs are substances that change the way we feel or act. Because they’re pretty commonplace and legal, it’s easy to forget that alcohol and nicotine are drugs. Still, the misuse of both is a serious societal problem.

Question 26

What are some phenomena associated with drug abuse (withdrawal, physical
dependence, etc.)?

Answer 26

Withdrawal- range from insomnia and mild anxiety to more severe symptoms such as seizures, confusion, and bizarre visual hallucinations.
Physical dependence- on a drug when they continue to take it to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Psychological dependence- when continued use of a drug is motivated by intense cravings, even though use of the drug creates problems in relationships or at work. This is a contrast to physical dependance.

Question 27

Explain certain factors that may increase or decrease the risk of a person abusing substances (sociocultural, personality, expectancies, genetics).

Answer 27

Sociocultural- some cultures strictly prohibit drinking such as mormons and muslims, compared to france and italy that view drinking as a healthy part of daily life.
Personality- certain people have “addictive personalities” that predispose them to abuse alcohol and other drugs. Also someones impulsivity and the tendency to seek high levels of novel and stimulating sensory experiences.
Expectations- people who consume alcohol and other drugs to relieve anxiety. Enjoying the dopamine rush, but once people seek the habit to allow alcohol to suppress their anxiety it can lead to unhealthy habits.
Genetic- researchers have uncovered a genetic link between people’s response to alcohol and their risk of developing alcoholism. A strong negative reaction to alcohol use decreases the risk of alcoholism, whereas a weak response increase this risk. (facial flushing, heart palpitations and nausea)

Question 28

Be able to distinguish the different categories of drugs (depressants, stimulants, psychedelics).

Answer 28

Depressants- alcohol, valium- will decrease activity of the CNS (initial high followed by sleep, slow thinking, and impaired concentration).
Stimulus- cocaine, tobacco/nicotine- increased activity of the CNS (sense of alertness, well-being, energy).
Opiates- heroin, morphine- sense of euphoria, decreased pain.
Psychedelics- marijuana, ecstasy- dramatically altered perception, mood, and thoughts.

Question 29

Be able to indicate which types of drugs belong to which drug (e.g., depressants = alcohol, sedative-hypnotics = benzodiazepines, stimulants = nicotine, etc.). As well, be sure to knowhow each type of drug (or drug category) effect people’s consciousness.

Answer 29

Sedatives like benzodiazepines (valium, Xanax) are used for anxiety, help to relax someone and assist with sleep melody. But this can reduce natural neurons used for REM sleep.
Depressants like alcohol increase GABA (chill relaxed feeling) and decrease glutamate (awake and alert)
Stimulants like nicotine produce feelings of stimulation and relaxation and increased alertness, whereas cocaine has more dramatic effects and enhances mental and physical capacity, indifferent to pain, sense of wellbeing, decreased fatigue and will increase activity of dopamine (reward) and serotonin (happy).
Narcotics like heroin or morphine will put the person in a sense of euphoria.