Sleep and the Unconscious Flashcards

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1
Q

Hypnagogic state

A

Transitional state from wakefulness to sleep; onset of sleep

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2
Q

Hypnic jerk

A

Sudden sensation of dropping

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3
Q

Hypnopompic state

A

Entering post-sleep consciousness

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4
Q

Circadian rhythm

A

A naturally occurring 24h cycle

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5
Q

What’s the circadian rhythm of humans?

A

A 25.1h circadian cycle of sleep and waking and is linked to the light-dark cycle

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6
Q

Zeitgebers

A

A cue given by the environment, such as a change in light or temperature, to reset the internal body clock.

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7
Q

Where did the first clues about the human sleep cycle come from?

A

EEG studies. During waking, there’s an alternation between high frequency activity (beta waves) during alertness and lower-frequency activity (alpha waves) during relaxation. Largest changes in EEG occur during sleep.

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8
Q

What is REM sleep characterized by?

A

High frequency beta waves, muscle paralysis, period of dreaming, and getting longer throughout the night

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9
Q

REM sleep disorder

A

Acting out dreams due to lack of muscle paralysis

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10
Q

What is the sleep-wake ratio?

A

1:2

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11
Q

What are some detrimental effects of sleep deprivation?

A

Deterioration of memories, mood problems and decrease in cognitive performance

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12
Q

Which stages of sleep is most detrimental to be deprived of?

A

REM sleep deprivation has the most detrimental effects, followed by slow-wave sleep (stages 3 and 4).

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13
Q

Restorative theory

A

Suggests sleep allows the brain and body to rest and repair themselves

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14
Q

What is insomnia?

A

Difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep (15% of adults)

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15
Q

How does the ironic process of mental control affect insomnia?

A

Anxiety about insomnia often exacerbates insomnia

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16
Q

What is the problem with sleeping pills?

A

They promote sleep but reduce the proportion of REM and slow-wave sleep

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17
Q

Somnambulism (sleepwalking)

A

A person arises and walks during sleep. Peaks around ages 11-12, 25% of children experience at least one episode

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18
Q

Sleep paralysis

A

The experience of waking up unable to move

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19
Q

When does sleep paralysis typically occur?

A

During hypnagogic or hypnopompic sleep

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20
Q

Narcolepsy

A

A disorder in which sudden sleep attacks occur in the middle of waking activities. Caused by an intrusion of REM sleep into waking and typically lasts 30 s - 30 min. Has a genetic basis.

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21
Q

What are the five major characteristics that distinguish dreaming from waking consciousness?

A

Intense emotion: usually anxiety
Illogical thought: due to less activity in prefrontal cortex
Meaningful sensation: usually no pain
Uncritical acceptance: we don’t question them
Difficulty remembering

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22
Q

What is day residue?

A

Dream content that reflects prior waking experiences

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23
Q

What are non-REM dreams?

A

Mirror past experience in compressed form; taking the past and trying figure how it might relate to the future

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24
Q

What are REM dreams?

A

Take the past and apply it to the future; associated with amygdala activation and has higher emotional content

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25
Q

What is Freudian dream theory?

A

Dreams have confusing content because dreams represent wishes and some of these wishes are so taboo they can only be expressed in disguised form

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26
Q

Manifest content

A

A dream’s apparent topic or superficial meaning

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27
Q

Latent content

A

A dream’s true underlying meaning

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28
Q

Action-synthesis model

A

Dreams are produced when the mind attempts to make sense of random activity that occurs in the brain during sleep. There’s spontaneous firing of neurons in the pons, and the cerebral cortex synthesizes signals and tries to interpret them.

29
Q

Evolutionary theories

A

Specifically applied to nightmares

30
Q

What’s the dreaming brain like?

A

Amygdala activation, activation in areas responsible for visual association (but not visual perception), relatively little activation in the prefrontal cortex; motor cortex is activated but spinal neurons inhibit motor activation

31
Q

Dynamic unconscious

A

An active system encompassing a lifetime of hidden memories.

32
Q

Repression

A

A mental process that removes unacceptable thoughts and memories from consciousness

33
Q

Freudian slips

A

Evidence of the unconscious mind in speech errors and lapses of consciousness

34
Q

Freud’s unconscious

A

Involves dynamic unconscious, repression and Freudian slips

35
Q

Modern unconscious

A

Involves cognitive unconscious and subliminal perception

36
Q

Cognitive unconscious

A

Processes that influence thoughts, choices, emotions, and behavior not experienced by the person

37
Q

Subliminal perception

A

A thought or behavior that is influenced by stimuli that a person cannot consciously report perceiving - subliminal stimuli activate specific regions of the brain despite participants being unaware

38
Q

Hypnosis

A

An altered state of consciousness characterized by suggestibility and the feeling that one’s actions are occurring involuntarily.

39
Q

What is the essence of hypnosis?

A

Leading people to expect that certain things will happen to them that are outside of their conscious will

40
Q

Hypnotic induction

A

A series of behavioral suggestions can induce a state of mind where individuals are susceptible to very unusual suggestions

41
Q

What are the 2 distinct types of highly susceptible subjects to hypnosis?

A

Fantasizers (find it easy to block out real world stimuli) and dissociaters (have history of abuse or trauma, find it easy to escape into numbness)

42
Q

Stroop task

A

Must say the color of a word but not the name of the word

43
Q

Brain activity under hypnosis

A

Stroop task typically increases activity in ACC (involved in conflict monitoring), but not when the subject is under hypnosis

44
Q

Hypnotherapy

A

The use of hypnosis in psychotherapy - primarily used for smoking, phobias and insomnia

45
Q

Posthypnotic amnesia

A

The failure to retrieve memories following hypnotic suggestion to forget, but can be reversed in subsequent hypnosis

46
Q

Can hypnosis help retrieve memories?

A

If they weren’t lost during hypnosis, then no

47
Q

Hypnotic analsegia

A

The reduction of pain through hypnosis in people who are hypnotically susceptible; can be more effective than anesthesia

48
Q

Meditation

A

The practice of intentional contemplation; produces temporarily altered patterns of brain activity (alpha waves in EEG)

49
Q

Altered state of consciousness

A

A form of experience that departs significantly from the normal subjective experience of the world and the mind.

50
Q

Psychoactive drugs

A

Chemicals that influence consciousness or behavior by altering the brain’s chemical message system.

51
Q

Progressive drug tolerance

A

Drug initially produces intense high and emotional depression as it wears off. Over time, tolerance and cravings simultaneously develop, and higher doses are needed, otherwise the user experiences severe depression.

52
Q

Withdrawal symptoms

A

Physical dependence – pain, convulsions, hallucinations

Psychological dependence – an emotional need that remains after the physical symptoms are gone

53
Q

Motivational toxicity

A

Refers to the powerful drug-obsessed drive that takes control of a drug addict’s thoughts and behaviours at the expense of all other things

54
Q

Depressants

A

Substances that reduce the activity of the CNS

55
Q

Alcohol

A

Depressant that initially results in euphoria and decreased anxiety, but subsequent effects are slowed reaction times, poor judgement and slurred speech. GABA agonist.

56
Q

Expectancy theory

A

Alcohol effects are produced by people’s expectations of how alcohol will influence them in particular situations

57
Q

Alcohol myopia

A

Alcohol hampers attention, leading people to respond in simple ways to complex situations.

58
Q

Other depressant drugs

A

Barbiturates (sleep aids or anesthetics), benzodiazepines (minor tranquilizers), toxic inhalants

59
Q

Stimulants

A

Substances that excite the CNS, heightening arousal and activity levels, and produce dopamine, serotonin and noreps. Withdrawal symptoms include fatigue and depression

60
Q

Ecstasy

A

Added effects similar to hallucinogens
Increases serotonin and oxytocin
Causes feelings of empathy and closeness

61
Q

Side effects of ecstasy

A

Jaw clenching, difficulty regulating body temperature – susceptible to heartstroke and exhaustion

62
Q

Cocaine

A

Acts as a serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor, also known as a triple reuptake inhibitor (TRI). Increases alertness, feelings of well-being and euphoria, energy and motor activity, feelings of competence and sexuality.

63
Q

What are the side effects of cocaine?

A

Anxiety, paranoia and restlessness in long-term use
With excessive dosage, tremors, convulsions and increased body temperature are observed. Impaired fear recognition and decreased volume of amygdala.

64
Q

Narcotics (opiates)

A

Drugs delivered from opium that are capable of relieving pain (e.g. heroin, morphine)
Induce feelings of well-being and relaxation
Can also induce stupor and lethargy

65
Q

Side effects of narcotics

A

Highly addictive, long term use produces tolerance and dependence
Delivery methods associated with risk of contracting diseases such as HIV

66
Q

How do narcotics induce a feeling of relaxation?

A

Mimics the brain’s own internal relaxation and well-being system. Brain produces endorphins or endogenous opioids – neurotransmitters closely related to opiates, which results in flooding of endorphin receptors and reduces their effectiveness.

67
Q

How is tolerance towards narcotics conditioned?

A

Related to environment. The body knows what to expect based on environmental cues and stimuli, so a change in location can result in a lower tolerance and thus an overdose.

68
Q

Hallucinogens

A

Drugs that alter sensation and perception, often causing hallucinations - sensations become unusually intense, objects may move or change, patterns or colours may appear

69
Q

Marijuana

A

Produces an intoxication that is mildly hallucinogenic
Euphoric with heightened senses of sight and sound and the perception of a rush of ideas
Affects short-term memory and impairs motor skill and coordination
BUT less risk of addiction or withdrawal