Unit 4 AOS 1 Flashcards
The demand for sleep and Importance of sleep to mental wellbeing
Consciousness
the level of awareness an individual has of their thoughts, feelings, perceptions and existence
Psychological construct
an agreed upon description and understanding of things we believe exist but cannot measure or observe
Example of a psychological construct
consciousness, because it is believed to exist, but we are unable to physically measure it
Normal Waking Consciousness (NWC)
a state of consciousness in which an individual is awake and aware
Altered State of Consciousness (ASC)
a state of consciousness that is distinctly different from normal waking consciousness in terms of quality of experience and levels of awareness
Naturally occurring altered state of consciousness
a type of altered state of consciousness that occurs without intervention
e.g. sleep
Induced altered state of consciousness
a type fo altered state of consciousness that occurs due to a purposeful action or aid
e.g. meditation, influence of alcohol/drugs
Consciousness continuum
a visual representation of the different states of consciousness that progress from lower levels of awareness to higher levels of awareness
Sleep
a regular and naturally occurring altered state of consciousness that involves a loss of awareness and disengagement with internal and external stimuli
REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep
a type of sleep characterised by rapid eye movement, high levels of brain activity and low levels of physical activity
NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep
a type of sleep characterised by a lack of rapid eye movement and is subdivided into three different stages
Characteristics of sleep
- reduced ability to control behaviour
- reduction in control over thoughts
- perceptual and cognitive distortions
Sleep episode
the full duration of time spent asleep
Sleep cycle
an approximately 90 minute period that repeats during a sleep episode in which an individual progresses through stages of REM and NREM sleep
Characteristics of REM sleep
Sleeper has a highly active brain and less active body
- virtually paralysed
- vivid dreaming occurs
- light stage of sleep
Characteristics of NREM sleep
Less active brain than normal waking consciousness, physical movement is possible
- time spent in NREM sleep is highest during the first half of the sleep episode, becomes shorter with each sleep cycle
NREM stage 2
relatively light sleep, majority of time spent asleep
NREM stage 1
awake into light sleep. Sleeper loses awareness of themselves and surroundings, but aware of faint sounds; can be easily awoken
NREM stage 3
deep stage of sleep, difficult to wake sleeper, if awoken they will feel drowsy and disoriented
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
a device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of the brain
Frequency
number of brain waves per second
Amplitude
intensity and height of the brain waves
Brain waves when awake/alert
high frequency and low amplitude
Brain waves when in deep sleep
low frequency and high amplitude
EEG readings in NREM sleep stage 1
high frequency and low amplitude, but lower frequency and higher amplitude than NWC