Sleep and consciousness

Question 1

Consciousness

Answer 1

is awareness of our self and environment. Can have different levels of consciousness (diff levels of awareness) and can be natural or be induced by external factors such as drugs or internal such as mental efforts. States range from alertness to sleep.

Question 2

Alertness

Answer 2

you’re awake, aware of who you are, what’s going on in the environment, focus your attention, engage in conformation, code info to your memory.

Question 3

Daydreaming-

Answer 3

feel more relaxed, not as focussed as alertness. Can also be light meditation (self-induced)

Question 4

Drowsiness

Answer 4

just before falling asleep/after waking up. Can also be self-induced in deep meditation.

Question 5

Sleep

Answer 5

not aware of self or world around you.

Question 6

Electroencephalograms (EEGs) can measure

Answer 6

brainwaves

Question 7

Beta

Answer 7

(12-30Hz) – associated with awake/concentration. If you are alert
for too long, beta levels get high and you experience increased stress,
anxiety, restlessness- constant awakened alertness.

Question 8

Alpha

Answer 8

(8-13 Hz) – in daydreaming state. Lower frequency than beta
waves. Disappear in drowsiness but reappear later in deep sleep

Question 9

Theta

Answer 9

(4-7 Hz) slower/lower frequency than alpha waves.Drowsiness/right after you fall asleep/when you are sleeping lightly.

Question 10

Delta

Answer 10

(0.5-3 Hz) – Slower/lower frequency than theta waves. Deep sleep
or coma.

Question 11

Your brain goes through distinct brain patterns during sleep. 4 main stages occur in

Answer 11

90 min cycles

Question 12

First three stages of sleep stages are categorized in

Answer 12

non-rapid eye movement sleep (non-REM) – N1, N2, N3

Question 13

N1

Answer 13

Dominated by theta waves.
Strange sensations – hypnagogic hallucinations, hearing or seeing things that aren’t their

Or the Tetris effect – if you play Tetris right before bed, you might see visual images of blocks during sleep.

Also a feeling of falling – hypnic jerks- muscle twitches you sometimes experience as you fall asleep.

Question 14

N2

Answer 14

deeper stage of sleep. People in N2 are harder to awaken. We see more theta waves, as well as sleep spindles and K-complexes.

Question 15

Sleep spindles

Answer 15

are a burst of rapid brain activity. Some researchers think that sleep spindles help inhibit certain perceptions so we maintain a tranquil state during sleep. Sleep spindles in some parts of brain associated with ability to sleep through loud noises.

Question 16

K-complexes

Answer 16

supress cortical arousal and keep you asleep. Also help sleep-based memory consolidation (some memories are transferred to long term memory during sleep, particularly declarative/explicit memories). Even though they occur naturally, you can also make them occur by gently touching someone sleeping. “that touch was not threatening, stay asleep brain”

Question 17

N3 (Stage 3)

Answer 17

slow wave sleep. Very difficult to awaken. Characterized by delta waves. Where sleep walking/talking in sleep happens. Declarative Memory consolidation. “regular breathing and regular slow brain waves”

Question 18

REM (rapid-eye movement) stage

Answer 18

Eyes move rapidly beneath your eyelids but most of your other muscles are paralyzed. Most dreaming occurs during REM sleep, so paralyzation inhibits actions.

Most important for memory consolidation. Formation of episodic memories. Combination of alpha, beta, and dyssynchronous waves, similar to beta waves seen when awake.

Question 19

order of sleep order?

Answer 19

N1 -> N2 -> N3 -> N2 -> REMàN1

Question 20

Circadian Rhythms

Answer 20

why you get sleepy in afternoon. They’re our regular body rhythms across 24-hour period. Controlled by melatonin, produced in the pineal gland.

Question 21

Activity in prefrontal cortex during REM sleep is

Answer 21

decreased

Question 22

Sigmund Freud theory on dream

Answer 22

Dreams are our unconscious thoughts and desires that need to be interpreted. Little scientific support

Question 23

Evolutionary biology theory on dreams

Answer 23

o Threat simulation, to prepare for real world.
o Problem solving
o No purpose

Question 24

Manifest content.

Answer 24

What happens? Literal meaning.

Question 25

Latent content.

Answer 25

What is hidden meaning?

Question 26

Activation Synthesis Hypothesis

Answer 26

§ Brain gets a lot of neural impulses in the brainstem, which is sometimes
interpreted by the frontal cortex.

§ Brainstem = activation, and cortex = synthesis.

§ Our brain is simply trying to find meaning from random brain activity.
Therefore dreams might not have meaning.

Question 27

insomnia

Answer 27

persistent trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

Question 28

narcolepsy

Answer 28

can’t help themselves from falling asleep

Question 29

Sleep apnea

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Sleepwalking/sleep talking

Answer 30

mostly genetic, occur during N3 (stage 3; slow wave) and
are harmles

Question 31

Induced States of Consciousness

Answer 31

Hypnosis + medication are examples. Does not occur naturally.

Question 32

Hypnotism

Answer 32

usually involves getting person to relax and focus on breathing, and they become more susceptible to suggestion in this state – but only if they want to. Morealpha waves in this stage – an awake but relaxed state.

Question 33

Meditation

Answer 33

training people to self-regulate their attention and awareness. Can be guided and focused on something in particular, like breathing, but meditation can also be unfocussed – mind wanders freely.
o More alpha waves than normal relaxation in light meditation.