Sleep

Question 1

Infradian cycle

Answer 1

Biological rhythms with cycles longer than 24 hours

• body temp
• alertness
• sleep/wake pattern
• growth hormone secretion

Question 2

Ultradian rhythm

Answer 2

Biological rhythms with cycles shorter than 24 hours

- sleep (NREM/REM) cycle

Question 3

Purpose of sleep

Answer 3

Two theories:

• survival (adaptive and evolutionary) theories
• restorative (restore and recovery) theories

Question 4

Survival (adaptive and evolutionary) theories of sleep

Answer 4

• a genetic adaptation to meet the demands of our environment
• sleep “protects” and hides organisms from predators
• depends on the need to find food and its availability
• depends on animals vulnerability
• conserves energy

Question 5

Criticisms of Survival (adaptive and evolutionary) theories

Answer 5

• assumption that sleep is useful but not essential

- assumption that sleep is a way of hiding safety from predators: loss of awareness makes animals vulnerable

Question 6

Restorative (restore and recover) theories of sleep

Answer 6

• sleep repairs the body after physical and psychological work during the day
• allows bodies growth processes to function
• (a) organisms spend more time in NREM sleep following physical work
• (b) organisms spend more time in REM sleep following mental work

Question 7

Criticism of Restorative theory

Answer 7

• assumption that more sleep is needed to recover when physically active
• assumption body rests during sleep

Question 8

Somnambulism

Answer 8

Sleep walking

Question 9

Night terrors

Answer 9

• occur during stages 3 and 4 of NREM sleep
• extremely frightening episodes
• where a person wakes often screaming, in sheer terror
• rapidly returns to sleep
• no recollection of event next morning
• common in your children aged 3-6

Question 10

Nightmare

Answer 10

• occur during REM sleep
• more likely to be remembered
• unpleasant and upsetting dreams
• associated with feelings of helpless terror

Question 11

Muscle Antonia

Answer 11

• total relaxation of muscles to the point of paralysis
• during REM
• known as cataplexy

Question 12

Paradoxical sleep

Answer 12

• REM often referred as paradoxical sleep
• due to body appearing calm on exterior
• whilst other bodily systems and brain are highly active
• similar to being awake

Question 13

Circadian rhythm

Answer 13

Biological rhythms with cycles that occur on a 24 hour cycle.

Question 14

Characteristics of sleep as an ASC: level of awareness

Answer 14

• unique state of awareness

- very little awareness of external environment whilst asleep

Question 15

Characteristics of sleep as an ASC: fewer content limitations

Answer 15

• whilst sleeping we relinquish conscious control of our thoughts
• dreams tend to be bizarre or weird
• content of dreams much broader and deeper than thoughts in NWC

Question 16

Characteristics of sleep as an ASC: controlled and automatic processes

Answer 16

• somnambulists usually carry out routine, automatic processes when sleep walking

Question 17

Characteristics of sleep as an ASC: perceptual and cognitive distortions

Answer 17

• sensory stimuli lowered during sleep
• thoughts are more likely to be disorganized and unrealistic during dreams
• unable to fully remember dreams

Question 18

Characteristics of sleep as an ASC: more or less emotional awareness

Answer 18

• Emotions can be more or less intense or flattened during sleep

Question 19

Characteristics of sleep as an ASC: less self-control

Answer 19

Ability to maintain self-control, including monitoring our own behavior is lowered during sleep

Question 20

Characteristics of sleep as an ASC: distorted time orientation

Answer 20

• ability to perceive the speed at which time passes my be affected