States of Consciousness and Sleep Terminology

Flashcards covering sleep stages, biological rhythms, sleep disorders, states of consciousness, and drug classifications based on the provided material.

What is an alpha wave?

A type of relatively low frequency, relatively high amplitude brain wave that becomes synchronized and is characteristic of the beginning of stage 1 sleep.

What is a biological rhythm?

An internal cycle of biological activity.

What is cataplexy?

A lack of muscle tone or muscle weakness, and in some cases complete paralysis of the voluntary muscles.

What is central sleep apnea?

A sleep disorder with periods of interrupted breathing due to a disruption in signals sent from the brain that regulate breathing.

What is a circadian rhythm?

A biological rhythm that occurs over approximately 24 hours.

What is codeine?

An opiate with relatively low potency often prescribed for minor pain.

What is cognitive-behavioral therapy?

A psychotherapy that focuses on cognitive processes and problem behaviors that is sometimes used to treat sleep disorders such as insomnia.

What is the collective unconscious according to Carl Jung?

A theoretical repository of information shared by all people across cultures, as described by Carl Jung.

How is consciousness defined?

An awareness of internal and external stimuli.

What is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)?

A device used to treat sleep apnea that includes a mask fitting over the sleeper's nose and mouth, connected to a pump that pumps air into the person's airways, forcing them to remain open.

What is a delta wave?

A type of low frequency, high amplitude brain wave characteristic of stage 3 and stage 4 sleep.

What is a depressant?

A drug that tends to suppress central nervous system activity.

What is a euphoric high?

Feelings of intense elation and pleasure from drug use.

What is evolutionary psychology?

A discipline that studies how universal patterns of behavior and cognitive processes have evolved over time as a result of natural selection.

What is a hallucinogen?

One of a class of drugs that results in profound alterations in sensory and perceptual experiences, often with vivid hallucinations.

What is homeostasis?

The tendency to maintain a balance, or optimal level, within a biological system.

What is hypnosis?

A state of extreme self-focus and attention in which minimal attention is given to external stimuli.

How is insomnia defined?

Consistent difficulty in falling or staying asleep for at least three nights a week over a month's time.

What causes jet lag?

Travel from one time zone to another, resulting in a collection of symptoms from the mismatch between internal circadian cycles and the environment.

What is a K-complex?

A very high amplitude pattern of brain activity associated with stage 2 sleep that may occur in response to environmental stimuli.

What is latent content in dreams according to Sigmund Freud?

The hidden meaning of a dream, per Sigmund Freud's view of the function of dreams.

What is a lucid dream?

A dream in which people become aware that they are dreaming and can control the dream's content.

What is manifest content in dreams according to Sigmund Freud?

The storyline of events that occur during a dream, per Sigmund Freud's view of the function of dreams.

What is meditation?

Clearing the mind in order to achieve a state of relaxed awareness and focus.

What is melatonin?

A hormone secreted by the endocrine gland that serves as an important regulator of the sleep-wake cycle.

What is a meta-analysis?

A study that combines the results of several related studies.

What is methadone?

A synthetic opioid that is less euphorogenic than heroin and similar drugs, used to manage withdrawal symptoms in opiate users.

What is a methadone clinic?

A facility that uses methadone to treat withdrawal symptoms in opiate users.

What is methamphetamine?

A type of amphetamine that can be made from pseudoephedrine, an over-the-counter drug; widely manufactured and abused.

What is narcolepsy?

A sleep disorder in which the sufferer cannot resist falling to sleep at inopportune times.

What is a night terror?

A sleep disorder in which the sleeper experiences a sense of panic and may scream or attempt to escape from the immediate environment.

What is non-REM (NREM) sleep?

A period of sleep outside periods of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

A sleep disorder defined by episodes when breathing stops during sleep as a result of blockage of the airway.

What is an opiate/opioid?

One of a category of drugs that has strong analgesic properties, produced from the resin of the opium poppy; includes heroin, morphine, methadone, and codeine.

What is parinsomnia?

One of a group of sleep disorders characterized by unwanted, disruptive motor activity and/or experiences during sleep.

What is physical dependence?

Changes in normal bodily functions that cause a drug user to experience withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of use.

What is the pineal gland?

An endocrine structure located inside the brain that releases melatonin.

What is psychological dependence?

An emotional, rather than a physical, need for a drug which may be used to relieve psychological distress.

What is rapid eye movement (REM) sleep?

A period of sleep characterized by brain waves very similar to those during wakefulness and by darting movements of the eyes under closed eyelids.

What is REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)?

A sleep disorder in which the muscle paralysis associated with the REM sleep phase does not occur; sleepers have high levels of physical activity during REM sleep, especially during disturbing dreams.

What is restless leg syndrome?

A sleep disorder in which the sufferer has uncomfortable sensations in the legs when trying to fall asleep that are relieved by moving the legs.

What is rotating shift work?

A work schedule that changes from early to late on a daily or weekly basis.

How is sleep defined?

A state marked by relatively low levels of physical activity and reduced sensory awareness that is distinct from periods of rest that occur during wakefulness.

What is sleep apnea?

A sleep disorder defined by episodes during which breathing stops during sleep.

What is sleep debt?

The result of insufficient sleep on a chronic basis.

What is sleep rebound?

An occurrence where sleep-deprived individuals experience shorter sleep latencies during subsequent opportunities for sleep.

What is sleep regulation?

The brain's control of switching between sleep and wakefulness as well as coordinating this cycle with the outside world.

What is a sleep spindle?

A rapid burst of high frequency brain waves during stage 2 sleep that may be important for learning and memory.

What is sleepwalking (somnambulism)?

A sleep disorder in which the sleeper engages in relatively complex behaviors.

What is stage 1 sleep?

The first stage of sleep; a transitional phase that occurs between wakefulness and sleep; the period during which a person drifts off to sleep.

What is stage 2 sleep?

The second stage of sleep during which the body goes into deep relaxation, characterized by the appearance of sleep spindles.

What is stage 3 sleep?

The third stage of sleep; deep sleep characterized by low frequency, high amplitude delta waves.

What is stage 4 sleep?

The fourth stage of sleep; deep sleep characterized by low frequency, high amplitude delta waves.

What is a stimulant?

A drug that tends to increase overall levels of neural activity; includes caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine.

What is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

A condition in which an infant (one year old or younger) with no apparent medical condition suddenly dies during sleep.

What is the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)?

The area of the hypothalamus in which the body's biological clock is located.

What is a theta wave?

A type of low frequency, low amplitude brain wave characteristic of the end of stage 1 sleep.

What is drug tolerance?

A state of requiring increasing quantities of the drug to gain the desired effect.

How is wakefulness defined?

A state characterized by high levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior.

What is drug withdrawal?

A variety of negative symptoms experienced when drug use is discontinued.