Unit 4 AOS 1 Flashcards
sleep
Consciousness
Our awareness of our thoughts, feelings and perceptions, and our surroundings
Normal waking consciousness (NWC)
A state of consciousness in which an individual is awake and aware
NWC characteristics
Moderate to high levels of awareness
Accurate perception
Appropriate emotions
Altered state of consciousness
Any state of consciousness that is distinctly different from NWC in terms of levels of awareness and the quality of sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings and memories that are experienced.
Altered state of consciousness characteristics
Memory difficulties
Distorted perception of reality
Uncharacteristic emotions
Sleep definition
A reversible, naturally occurring altered state of consciousness in which we lose awareness of our environment
Length of sleep cycles/how many?
5 sleep cycles of approx 90 minutes
Total sleep time spent in REM vs NREM
REM: 20-25%
NREM: 75-80%
NREM
Non-rapid eye movement, contains three stages, with our awareness reducing as we progress through the stages
Supports physical repair of our bodies and replenishes energy spent during the day
Stage 1 NREM
Transition between sleep and wakefulness
Can be woken easily, decrease in heart rate, respiration, body temp, slow rolling eye movements
Stage 1 NREM length and % of total sleep time
Approx 2-10 minutes
4-5% of total sleep time
Stage 2 NREM
Light stage of sleep, can still be easily aroused, body temp drops, heart rate and breathing continue to slow,
Stage 2 NREM length and % of total sleep time
10-25 minutes in the first sleep cycle and then lengthens after that- approx 20-30 mins
45-55% of total sleep time
Stage 3 NREM
Difficult to arouse people, known as deep sleep, muscles are relaxed, limited eye movements, where sleep disturbances can occur
Stage 3 NREM length
Length on average 20-40 minutes, but decreases as the night progresses
NREM stage 3 waves
high amplitude, low frequency delta waves
Hypnic jerk
Common experience in stage 1 sleep, spasm of a part of our body
REM sleep
A type of sleep where a persons eyes move beneath their eyelids while sleeping
The brain is active, but the body appears calm and inactive
Replenishes the mind
REM sleep length + brain waves
Starts off small approx 5 mins, then stretches out to as long as 60 minutes towards the end of our sleep
low amplitude high frequency beta waves
Objective data
Collected under controlled conditions, minimises biases and represents a more scientific, accurate and reliable method of data collection
Subjective data
Collected through personal observations or personal reports of behaviour. Influenced by researcher or observational biases.
EEG recordings
Detects, amplifies, and records electrical activity in the brain in the form of brainwaves
DARE
Detects, amplifies and records electrical activity
EOG recordings
Detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity in the muscles that allow the eye to move
EMG recordings
Detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of muscles
Self-reports
Involves an individual keeping a record of their own subjective experiences
Sleep spindles
Brief burst of higher frequency brain waves of approx 1 second during stage 2 sleep
K complexes
A single low frequency high amplitude brain wave during stage 2 sleep
Sleep diary strengths
Provide researchers with insight into covert thoughts
Inexpensive
Gives participants an opportunity to express how they are feeling
Sleep diary limitations
Accuracy of the recording
People may also neglect to record things out of fear of embarrassment
Video monitoring strengths
Footage can be watched at any time
Can be interpreted by multiple people
Video monitoring limitations
Results may be inconclusive
Needs to be used in conjunction with other methods
Newborn hours of sleep + % in REM
16 hours of sleep
50% REM 50% NREM
Newborn sleep characteristics
Sleep is completed in bursts as the circadian sleep cycle hasn’t developed
Sleep is integral to the rapid development of newborns
Infant hours of sleep + % in REM
12-15 hours of sleep
35% REM 65% NREM
Infant sleep characteristics
Napping is still common but most of an infant’s sleep occurs at night
Child hours of sleep +% in REM
9-11 hours of sleep
20-25% REM 75-80% NREM
Child sleep characteristics
Typically fall asleep earlier in the night
Adolescent hours of sleep + % in REM
8-10 hours of sleep
20-25% REM 75-80% NREM
Adolescent sleep characteristics
Melatonin release is delayed so they often go to bed 1-2 hours later and wake 1-2 hours later naturally
Adult hours of sleep + % in REM
7-9 hours of sleep
20% REM 80% NREM
Elderly hours of sleep + % in NREM
6-8 hours of sleep
20% REM 80% NREM
Elderly sleep characteristics
As physical demands decrease, they tend to sleep for a lesser amount
Spend less time in slow wave sleep, so are susceptible to multiple awakenings throughout the night
Circadian rhythms
Biological processes that roughly follow a 24 hour cycle, influenced by zeitgebers, include the sleep-wake cycle
How does light affect the body?
A lack of light stimulates the SCN, which in turn activates the pineal gland to release melatonin, a hormone that makes us drowsy
When light is present, the release of melatonin is suppressed and instead the body releases cortisol to activate our system
Ultradian rhythms
Biological rhythms that follow a cycle of less than 24 hours,
Partial sleep deprivation
When someone gets some sleep in a 24 hour period but less than normally required for optimal daytime functioning
Affective effects of sleep deprivation
Mood swings
Reduced motivation
Inability to cope with stress
Behavioural effects of sleep deprivation
Difficulty completing routine tasks
Lack of energy (lethargy)
Slowed reflexes
Cognitive effects of sleep deprivation
Memory lapses
Poor decision making
Difficulty maintaining concentration
Microsleeps
Short periods (a few seconds), where the individual appears to be awake but EEG recordings show brainwaves similar to those shown in stage 1 NREM sleep
Sleep deprivation and BAC comparison
17 hours - 0.05
24 hours - 0.10
Circadian rhythm sleep disorder
Mismatch between a persons internal circadian rhythm and their actual or required sleep cycle
Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS)
A circadian rhythm sleep disorder characterised by a sleep pattern that is significantly later (by at least two hours) than conventional sleep patterns, resulting in later sleep onset and wake times
Sleep wake cycle shift in adolescents
During adolescence, there is a hormone induced shift leading to sleep onset, being delayed by approximately an hour or two, coupled with waking an hour or two later. Caused by a delayed release of melatonin.
Advanced sleep phase disorder (ASPD)
ASPD is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder characterised by a sleep pattern that is significantly earlier (by at least two hours) than a conventional or socially desirable sleep pattern, resulting in evening sleepiness or early morning insomnia.
Shift work
People who’s work schedule is in direct opposition to their circadian rhythms
Shift-work side effects
Sleep-onset insomnia, chronic sleep deprivation, excessive sleepiness when awake
Bright light therapy
A treatment for circadian rhythm sleep phase disorders that exposes people to intense but safe amounts of artificial light at a particular time to help synchronise their sleep-wake cycle with normal external day-night cycle, and encourage sleep at a normal time.
When should people with DSPS receive bright light therapy
Early in the morning
When should people with ASPD receive bright light therapy
Early in the evening
Case study definition
A thorough study of a single person, community or event that relies on observations, facts and experiments to gather information
