Sleep and Dreams

Question 1

Circadian rhythm

Answer 1

• biological clock (controlled by hypothalamus).

- Provides approximate schedule for physical processes

Question 2

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

Answer 2

(in hypothalamus) sensitive to changes in light

Question 3

How does the Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) react to little light?

Answer 3

SCN tells pineal gland to secrete melatonin

Question 4

Melatonin

Answer 4

Causes sleepiness

Question 5

How does the Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) react to more light?

Answer 5

SCN tells pineal gland to stop secreting melatonin

Question 6

What is seasonal effective disorder?

Answer 6

It is clinical depression in the Winter that goes away in the Summer

Question 7

What is the effect of artificial lighting on our melatonin production?

Answer 7

breaks down melatonin.

Question 8

What is non-rapid eye movement (N-REM)

Answer 8

non dreaming sleep

Question 9

Stage 1 of N-REM

Answer 9

• similar to drowsiness
• Hypnic or hypnagogic jerk
• Hypnagogic hallucinations

Question 10

Stage 2 of N-REM

Answer 10

– true sleep – reductions in heart rate and muscle tension

Question 11

Stage 3/4 of N-REM

Answer 11

• deeply asleep, hard to awaken, disoriented when awakened

- Growth hormones released from pituitary

Question 12

What is Rapid eye movement (REM) Sleep

Answer 12

• “Paradoxical sleep”
• Eyes move back and forth
• Heart rate, blood pressure, breathing – rapid or irregular
• Dreams
• Sleep paralysis

Question 13

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Answer 13

• Irritability, difficulty concentrating
• Slower healing, reduced immune system activity
• Lower production of growth hormone
• Impairment of memory formation
• Increased risk of depression
• Increased risk of obesity
• Selective deprivation of stage 3/4- muscle and joint pain

Question 14

What was Cohen et al.’s (2009) study?

Answer 14

exposed Ps to cold virus, measured average amount of sleep per night

Question 15

Evolutionary/adaptive theory

Answer 15

protection – not out and vulnerable to predators in the dark

Question 16

Restorative theory

Answer 16

Supports growth

Question 17

Information processing theory

Answer 17

• supports cognitive processes
• Restores and rebuilds memories
• Supports creative thinking

Question 18

Why do we dream? (Freud)

Answer 18

to satisfy our own unconscious wishes

Question 19

Why do we dream? (Information processing)

Answer 19

memories (external events)

Question 20

Why do we dream? (Preserving neural pathways)

Answer 20

brain stimulation

Question 21

Why do we dream? (Activation synthesis)

Answer 21

brain’s internally generated signals (internal events)

Question 22

i. What is a hypnagogic jerk?

Answer 22

occurs when one feels a sensation of falling or floating weightlessly

Question 23

ii. What is a hypnagogic hallucination

Answer 23

Sensory experiences that occur without a sensory stimulus, occurs shortly after falling asleep

Question 24

a. What is the meaning of “paradoxical sleep?”

Answer 24

the body is internally aroused, with waking-like brain activity, yet asleep and externally calm

Question 25

i. When is growth hormone released from the pituitary gland?

Answer 25

Stage 3, an hour after you first fall asleep

Question 26

b. What is sleep paralysis?

Answer 26

Your awake but not awake