AP Psychology: Sleep

Circadian cycle

the biological clock,regular bodily rhythms that occur in a 24 hour cycle

*1-4, 3, 2, REM,

awake/relaxed

-alpha waves

alpha waves

relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

Stage 1

-sleep

-hallucinations

-hypnagogic sensations

-5 minutes

sleep

periodic, natural, reversible loss of consciousness

hallucinations

sensory experiences that occur without a sensory stimulus

hypnagogic sensations

sensations of falling or floating that are sometimes later incorporated into memories

Stage 2

-periodic appearance of sleep spindles

-sleep-talking occurs in this stage

-20 minutes

sleep-spindles

bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain wave activity

sleep-talking

garbled or nonsensical talk

Stage 3

-transitional stage into sleep stage 4

-delta waves

-occurs only a few minutes

delta waves

the large slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

Stage 4

-deep sleep

-delta waves

-bedwetting may occur

-sleepwalking occurs

-lasts 30 minutes

Stage 5

-REM sleep occurs

-heart rate increases, breathing is irregular and rapid, eyes dart around every 30 seconds

-genitals become aroused

REM sleep

-rapid eye movement aka paradoxical sleep

-a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur

-occurs in all humans

paradoxical sleep

muscles are relaxed but brain and body systems are active

Night Progression

stage 4 becomes shorter, stage 2 and 5 become longer

insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

narcolepsy

a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks.

sleep apnea

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

sleep terrors

a sleep disorder characterized by episodes in which sleepers wake up suddenly in an extreme state of arousal and panic. Occurs during stage 4.

dream

a sequences of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind.

latent content

an underlying meaning of a dream, according to Freud.

manifest content

a remembered story line our dream, according to Freud.

information processing

dreams help sift, sort and fix the day's experiences into our memories

activation synthesis theory

the theory that dreams result from the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural signals that fire during sleep

Sleep Functions

1) sleep protects

2) sleep helps us recuperate

3) sleep makes memories

4) sleep feeds creative thinking

5) sleep plays a role in the growth process

Sleep Theories

1) to satisfy our own wishes (Freud)

2) to file away memories

3) to develop and preserve neural pathways

4) to make sense of neural static

5) to reflect cognitive development

REM rebound

increased amounts of REM sleep after being deprived of REM sleep on earlier nights

REM Motor Behavior

experience episodes in which they act out some or all of their dreams

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

neurologic movement disorder, sufferers have an irresistible urge to move their legs during sleep, experience creeping, crawling, pulling or tingling sensations

Parasomnias

Disorders characterized by behaviors and experiences that occur during sleep

-sleepwalking, REM motor behavior

sleepwalking

disorder characterized by walking or moving about during sleep, occurs during NREM sleep