Sleep as a psychological construct

Question 1

consciousness

Answer 1

the level of awareness an individual has of their thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and existence

Question 2

Psychological construct 

Answer 2

an agreed upon description and understanding of psychological phenomena that cannot be overtly measured or observed

Question 3

Normal waking consciousness (NWC) 

Answer 3

a state of consciousness in which an individual is awake and aware

Question 4

Altered state of consciousness (ASC) 

Answer 4

a state of consciousness that is distinctly different from normal waking consciousness in terms of quality of experience and levels of awareness

Question 5

Naturally occurring altered state of consciousness

Answer 5

type of altered state of consciousness that occurs without intervention
eg. Sleep, daydreaming

Question 6

Induced altered state of consciousness

Answer 6

type of altered state of consciousness that occurs due to a purposeful action or aid
eg. Meditation, hypnosis, influence of alcohol and/or drugs

Question 7

sleep

Answer 7

a regular and naturally occurring altered state of consciousness that involves a loss of awareness and disengagement with internal and external stimuli

Question 8

REM (rapid eye movement) sleep

Answer 8

type of sleep characterized by rapid eye movement, high levels of brain activity, and low levels of physical activity

Question 9

NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep

Answer 9

type of sleep characterised by a lack of rapid eye movement and is
subdivided into three different stages

Question 10

Sleep episode 

Answer 10

the full duration of time spent asleep

Question 11

Sleep cycle 

Answer 11

an approximately 90-minute-period that repeats during a sleep episode in which an individual progresses through stages of REM and NREM sleep

Question 12

NREM stage 1

Answer 12

• sleeper transitions from being awake into a light sleep
• signified by the experience of the hypnagogic state, in which some people experience feelings of floating or falling, or a sudden jerk
• the sleeper loses awareness of themselves and their surroundings but is still aware of faint sounds in the environment

Question 13

NREM stage 2

Answer 13

• sleeper is still in a relatively light sleep
• Individuals spend the majority of their time asleep in this stage
• sleeper is considered ‘truly’ asleep (, due to the types of brain waves occurring)

Question 14

NREM 3

Answer 14

• the sleeper is in a deep stage of sleep
• difficult to wake the sleeper
• If the sleeper is woken during this stage they are likely to feel drowsy and disoriented
• sleep talking are most likely to occur

Question 15

characteristics of REM

Answer 15

• a highly active brain and a less active body
• virtually paralysed
• brain is active and sleepers can be woken fairly easily
• Vivid dreaming tends to occur
• makes up approximately 20–25% of a sleep episode

Question 16

characteristics of NREM

Answer 16

• a less active brain than normal waking consciousness
• body is said to be ‘more active’
• movement tends to decrease as NREM stages progress
• dreams occur, but not as vivid and harder to remember
• makes up approximately 75–80% of a sleep episode