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Psychology 289 > Unit 5 > Flashcards

Unit 5 Flashcards

1
Q

How is sleep studied in humans?

A

Sleep is studied using polysomnography (PSG) and ambulatory monitoring, which include EEG, EMG, EOG, heart rate, respiratory patterns, and blood oxygen levels.

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2
Q

What does an EEG measure during sleep?

A

An EEG measures brain electrical activity to analyze sleep stages and brainwave patterns.

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3
Q

What is an EMG and what does it measure?

A

An EMG measures muscle electrical activity to assess muscle tone and diagnose neuromuscular disorders.

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4
Q

What is an EOG and what does it measure?

A

An EOG measures eye movements, providing critical data for identifying REM sleep.

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5
Q

What are the stages of the sleep cycle until the first REM stage?

A

Progression: Stage 1 → Stage 2 → Stage 3 → Stage 4 → Back to Stage 2 → REM sleep.

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6
Q

What happens during slow-wave sleep (SWS)?

A

SWS (Stages 3 & 4) involves deep, restorative sleep with slow brainwaves, crucial for physical recovery.

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7
Q

What happens during REM sleep?

A

REM sleep involves vivid dreaming, high brain activity, and muscle paralysis (atonia).

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8
Q

What is REM rebound?

A

Increased REM duration following deprivation, reflecting the brain’s compensation for missed REM sleep.

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9
Q

How many sleep cycles does an average adult complete per night?

A

Adults complete 4–6 sleep cycles, each lasting 90–120 minutes.

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10
Q

How does the sleep cycle change throughout the night?

A

Early cycles emphasize deep sleep; later cycles feature longer REM sleep periods.

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11
Q

What is memory consolidation?

A

Memory consolidation is the process of stabilizing and transferring new memories into long-term storage during sleep.

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12
Q

How do REM and SWS contribute to learning?

A

REM aids emotional processing and integration, while SWS consolidates declarative memories.

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13
Q

How does sleep change from infancy to late adulthood?

A

Infants sleep 14–17 hours; adults need 7–9 hours; late adulthood sees less deep sleep and more awakenings.

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14
Q

What happens if the brainstem’s reticular formation is severed?

A

Persistent sleep or difficulty waking occurs, disrupting sleep-wake transitions.

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15
Q

What are the evolutionary theories of sleep?

A

Sleep aids in adaptive inactivity, energy conservation, brain maintenance, and physical restoration.

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16
Q

What are the effects of sleep deprivation?

A

Sleep deprivation causes cognitive impairments, mood instability, and increased risk of health issues.

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17
Q

What is selective REM sleep deprivation?

A

Preventing REM sleep causes REM rebound and impairs emotional and cognitive functioning.

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18
Q

What is selective SWS deprivation?

A

Loss of SWS impairs physical recovery, hormone regulation, and memory consolidation.

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19
Q

What are the characteristics of insomnia?

A

Difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, leading to daytime fatigue and cognitive impairments.

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20
Q

What stage do night terrors occur in, and how do they differ from nightmares?

A

Night terrors occur in deep NREM (Stages 3 & 4) and lack detailed dream content, unlike REM-based nightmares.

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21
Q

What are psychoactive drugs?

A

Substances that alter mood, perception, cognition, or behavior by interacting with neurotransmitter systems in the brain.

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22
Q

What are the main classes of psychoactive drugs?

A

Stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, opioids, and cannabinoids.

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23
Q

What is the effect of stimulants on the body?

A

Stimulants increase alertness, energy, and focus while reducing fatigue.

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24
Q

What are examples of stimulants?

A

Amphetamines, cocaine, and nicotine.

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25
Q

What is the effect of depressants on the body?

A

Depressants reduce arousal, induce relaxation, and decrease anxiety.

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26
Q

What are examples of depressants?

A

Alcohol, barbiturates (e.g., Seconal), and benzodiazepines.

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27
Q

What is the effect of hallucinogens on the body?

A

Hallucinogens alter sensory perception, enhance awareness, and can cause hallucinations.

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28
Q

What are examples of hallucinogens?

A

LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline

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29
Q

What is the effect of opioids on the body?

A

Opioids provide pain relief, relaxation, and euphoria but carry high addiction risks.

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30
Q

What are examples of opioids?

A

Morphine, heroin, and oxycodone.

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31
Q

What are the desirable effects of cannabis?

A

Mild euphoria, relaxation, and altered sensory perception.

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32
Q

What is drug tolerance?

A

A condition where increasing doses of a drug are needed to achieve the same effect due to the body’s adaptation.

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33
Q

How do amphetamines affect synaptic function?

A

They increase dopamine and norepinephrine release while inhibiting reuptake, leading to heightened alertness and energy.

34
Q

How does cocaine affect synaptic function?

A

Cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine, increasing its availability in the synapse and resulting in euphoria and increased energy.

35
Q

What is the role of dopamine in addiction?

A

Dopamine in the brain’s reward pathway reinforces behaviors, making it central to drug abuse and dependence.

36
Q

What is physical dependence?

A

A state where the body adapts to a drug, leading to withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not taken.

37
Q

What is psychological dependence?

A

A condition where an individual feels a compulsive need to use a drug for emotional or mental relief.

38
Q

What are withdrawal symptoms?

A

Physical or psychological symptoms that occur when stopping a drug on which the body has become dependent.

39
Q

Which drug has the most diverse adverse health effects?

A

Alcohol, due to its widespread impact on multiple organ systems and long-term health risks.

40
Q

What neurotransmitter is involved in the reinforcing effects of most addictive drugs?

A

Dopamine, particularly in the brain’s reward pathway.

41
Q

What is consciousness?

A

Consciousness is the awareness of thoughts, feelings, sensations, and surroundings, enabling introspection and decision-making.

42
Q

Is all behavior determined by conscious thought?

A

No, behavior is influenced by both conscious thought and unconscious processes such as instincts, habits, and environmental stimuli.

43
Q

What is the role of unconscious processes in behavior?

A

Unconscious processes drive automatic responses, learned patterns, and instincts that operate without conscious awareness.

44
Q

What is an EEG?

A

An EEG (electroencephalogram) measures brain’s electrical activity via electrodes on the scalp, detecting neural synchronization.

45
Q

What does an EEG measure?

A

It measures voltage fluctuations resulting from neuron activity, capturing brainwave patterns.

46
Q

What are the types of brainwaves detected by EEG?

A

Delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma waves, each associated with specific states of consciousness and brain activity.

47
Q

What insights can EEG provide?

A

EEG helps infer consciousness states, diagnose neurological disorders, and assess brain responses during tasks or rest.

48
Q

How does an EEG work?

A

Electrodes on the scalp detect electrical signals from neurons, which are amplified and visualized as waveforms.

49
Q

What do brainwave patterns indicate?

A

Brainwave patterns correlate with cognitive states such as alertness, relaxation, sleep, or altered consciousness.

50
Q

What are delta waves?

A

Delta waves are slow brainwaves associated with deep, restorative sleep (non-REM stages).

51
Q

What are theta waves?

A

Theta waves are slower brainwaves linked to light sleep, dreaming, and meditative states.

52
Q

What are alpha waves?

A

Alpha waves represent a calm, relaxed state often associated with wakeful rest or meditation.

53
Q

What are beta waves?

A

Beta waves are fast brainwaves associated with active thinking, problem-solving, and alertness.

54
Q

What are gamma waves?

A

Gamma waves are high-frequency waves linked to complex cognitive processing and heightened states of awareness.

55
Q

What are the four general states of consciousness?

A

Waking (alertness), relaxation, sleep, and altered states (e.g., meditation, hypnosis, or drug effects).

56
Q

What brainwaves are associated with waking consciousness?

A

Beta waves dominate during waking consciousness, reflecting alertness and active cognition.

57
Q

What brainwaves are associated with relaxation?

A

Alpha waves dominate during relaxation, indicating calmness and readiness for sleep.

58
Q

What brainwaves are associated with sleep?

A

Theta waves occur in light sleep, while delta waves dominate in deep sleep.

59
Q

Do brainwaves cause states of consciousness?

A

No, brainwaves reflect neural activity associated with consciousness states but do not directly cause them.

60
Q

How are altered states of consciousness reflected in brainwave activity?

A

Altered states, like meditation or drug use, involve mixed brainwave patterns depending on the specific activity or influence.

61
Q

What are biological rhythms?

A

Periodic fluctuations in physiological functioning inherent to living organisms, enabling adaptation to environmental changes.

62
Q

What are circadian rhythms?

A

A subset of biological rhythms that operate on a roughly 24-hour cycle, governing processes like sleep-wake patterns, hormone release, and metabolism.

63
Q

How are circadian rhythms related to biological rhythms?

A

Circadian rhythms are a type of biological rhythm, focusing on daily (24-hour) fluctuations in physiological and behavioral processes.

64
Q

What regulates circadian rhythms?

A

The internal biological clock, primarily located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus.

65
Q

What external cues influence circadian rhythms?

A

Light and darkness are key external cues that help synchronize circadian rhythms with the environment.

66
Q

What role does light play in setting circadian rhythms?

A

Light is detected by retinal photoreceptors, which signal the SCN to regulate melatonin production and align bodily functions with the day-night cycle.

67
Q

What is melatonin, and how is it linked to circadian rhythms?

A

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, associated with sleep. Its production is suppressed by light and promoted by darkness.

68
Q

What happens when people ignore their circadian rhythms?

A

Ignoring circadian rhythms can lead to sleep disorders, cognitive impairments, and increased stress hormone levels.

69
Q

What are the long-term health risks of circadian rhythm disruption?

A

Chronic disruption can contribute to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and weakened immune function.

70
Q

How does shift work affect circadian rhythms?

A

Shift work disrupts alignment between the biological clock and environmental cues, leading to sleep disturbances and health issues.

71
Q

What are the behavioral effects of circadian rhythm disruption?

A

Impaired attention, memory, and decision-making abilities, along with increased irritability and anxiety.

72
Q

How does morning light exposure benefit circadian rhythms?

A

Morning light helps reset the biological clock, promoting healthy sleep-wake cycles and overall well-being.

73
Q

What physiological processes are governed by circadian rhythms?

A

Sleep-wake cycles, body temperature, hormone release, and metabolism.

74
Q

What happens to melatonin production during daylight?

A

Light suppresses melatonin production, signaling the body to stay alert and active.

75
Q

What is photic entrainment?

A

The process by which light exposure synchronizes the internal biological clock with the external day-night cycle.

76
Q

What changes occur in animals due to circadian rhythms?

A

Variations in alertness, feeding patterns, reproductive cycles, blood pressure, and hormone levels.

77
Q

How do seasonal biological rhythms differ from circadian rhythms?

A

Seasonal rhythms follow longer cycles (e.g., months or years), whereas circadian rhythms are daily (24-hour) cycles.

78
Q

What are common symptoms of circadian misalignment?

A

Insomnia, fatigue, mood disturbances, and difficulty concentrating.

79
Q

What is the SCN, and why is it important?

A

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the brain’s master clock that regulates circadian rhythms in response to light cues.

80
Q

How does travel across time zones affect circadian rhythms?

A

Traveling across time zones can cause jet lag, disrupting circadian alignment and leading to temporary sleep and cognitive impairments.

Psychology 289 (5 decks)

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