Module 24 & 25

Insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times

Sleep apnea

a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings.

Night terrors

a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during NREM-3 sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered.

Dream

a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind.

Manifest content

according to Freud, the symbolic, remembered story line of a dream (as distinct from its latent, or hidden, content).

Latent content

according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream (as distinct from its manifest content).

REM rebound

the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation.

Substance abuse disorder

a disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk

Psychoactive drug

a chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods.

Tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effect

Addiction

Prompts users to crave the drug, to continue use despite adverse consequences, and to struggle when attempting to withdraw from it.

Withdrawal

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior.

Depressants

drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

Alcohol use disorder

(popularly known as alcoholism) alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use.

Barbiturates

drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment.

Opiates

opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

Stimulants

drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

Amphetamines

drugs, such as methamphetamine, that stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes.

Nicotine

a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco.

Cocaine

a powerful and addictive stimulant derived from the coca plant; produces temporarily increased alertness and euphoria.

Methamphetamine

a powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels.

Ecstasy (MDMA)

a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition.

Hallucinogens

psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

LSD

a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid (lysergic acid diethylamide).

Near-death experience

an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as cardiac arrest); often similar to drug-induced hallucinations.

THC

the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations.