Psych Flashcards
(22 cards)
REM Sleep
rapid-eye movement) stage. Most of your other muscles are paralyzed. Most dreaming
occurs during REM sleep, so paralysation inhibits actions. Most important for memory consolidation. Combination of alpha, beta, and desynchronous waves, similar to beta waves seen when awake.
What and Why is it called Paradoxical sleep?
Sometimes called paradoxical sleep, because brain is active and awake but body prevents it from doing anything.
REM and Memory formation
Waking up during REM sleep prevents memory formation of the dream.
How long do sleep cycles last? How do they cycle?
Cycle through these 4-5 times per sleep, each one 90 times. Order within cycle goes from N1 ->
N2 -> N3 -> N2 -> REM. How long each stage lasts depends on how long you’ve been asleep and
your age.
Circadian Rhythms
What chemical controls it?
why you get sleepy in afternoon. They’re our regular body rhythms across
24-hour period. Controlled by melatonin, produced in the pineal gland.
o Control our body temperature, sleep cycle, etc.
o Daylight is big queue, even artificial light.
o Also change as you age – younger people are night owls, but older people go to bed
early.
Dreams:
In what stage do they happen?
Everybody dreams during REM sleep. Can tell someone is dreaming because eyes are moving
rapidly under eyelids, and brainwaves look like they are completely awake
Dream: What lobe of the brain becomes less active?
Activity in prefrontal cortex during REM sleep is decreased – part responsible for logic. Why
things in our things that defy logic don’t seem weird.
Theories on Sleep:
Sigmund Freud
Evolutionary biology
Activation Synthesis Hypothesis
Sigmund Freud:
Dreams are our unconscious thoughts and desires that need to be interpreted. Little
scientific support.
Manifest Content
Do our dreams have a meaning? Sigmund Freud’s theory of dreams says dreams represent our
unconscious feelings/thoughts. Like an iceberg.
- What happens? Manifest content. Ex. Monster chasing you
Latent Content
Do our dreams have a meaning? Sigmund Freud’s theory of dreams says dreams represent our
unconscious feelings/thoughts. Like an iceberg.
2. What is hidden meaning? Latent content. Ex. Job pushing you out.
o Can help us resolve and identify hidden conflict.
Evolutionary Biology:
o Threat simulation, to prepare for real world.
o Problem solving
o No purpose
Activation Synthesis Hypothesis
o Brain gets a lot of neural impulses in brainstem, which is sometimes interpreted by the
frontal cortex.
o Brainstem = activation, and cortex = synthesis.
o Our brain is simply trying to find meaning from random brain activity. Therefore might
not have meaning.
Other sleep Theories:
Sleep..
o Maintain brain flexibility
o Consolidate thoughts to long-term memory, and cleaning up thoughts. People who learn
+ sleep retain more than those who do not sleep. But role of REM is unclear.
o Preserve and developing neural pathways. Because infants constantly developing new
neural networks spend most of time in REM sleep.
sleep deprivation
People with sleep deprivation might be more irritable and have poorer memory. Could be
dangerous when it comes to flying airplanes or driving cars.
What does Sleep Deprivation Cause in the body (chemicals)?
o Also more susceptible to obesity – body makes more cortisol, and the hunger hormone.
o Can also increase your risk for depression. REM sleep helps brain process emotional
experiences, which can help protect against depression (not certain).
What is a sleep debt?
Combat sleep deprivation —> Can get back on track by paying back “sleep debt”
How much is enough sleep?
7-8 hours for adults. Varies with age and individual. Babies need a
lot more.
Insomnia
Medication down sets
More serious form – insomnia (persistent trouble falling asleep or staying asleep). Various
medications but taking them too long leads to dependence and tolerance.
o Exercising or relaxing before bed can help
Narcolepsy
can’t help themselves from falling asleep. Various fits of sleepiness, going into REM sleep. Can occur any time. 1 in 2000.
o Indications it’s genetic, and linked to absence of alertness neurotransmitter.
Sleep Apnea
1 in 20 people. People with it are often unaware. Stop breathing while sleeping –
body realizes you’re not getting enough oxygen, wake up just long enough to gasp for air and
fall back asleep without realizing. Can happen 100x/night!
o Don’t get enough N3 (slow-wave) sleep.
o Snoring is an indication, or fatigue in morning.
Sleepwalking/sleep talking
mostly genetic, occur during N3 and are harmless. Occur more
often in children (have more N3).
