OpenStax Psychology 2e Chapter 4

Consciousness

awareness of internal and external stimuli

Sleep

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

Wakefulness

characterized by high levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior

Biological rhythms

internal cycle of biological activity

Circadian rhythm

biological rhythm that occurs over approximately 24 hours

Homeostasis

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

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

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

Melatonin

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

Pineal gland

endocrine structure located inside the brain that releases melatonin

Sleep regulation

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

Jet lag

collection of symptoms brought on by travel from one time zone to another that results from the mismatch between our internal circadian cycles and our environment

Insomnia

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

Rotating shift work

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

Sleep debt

result of insufficient sleep on a chronic basis

Meta-analysis

study that combines the results of several related studies

Sleep rebound

sleep-deprived individuals will experience shorter sleep latencies during subsequent opportunities for sleep

Evolutionary psychology

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

Rapid eye movement (REM)

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

non-REM (NREM)

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

Stage 1 sleep

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

Alpha waves

type of relatively low frequency, relatively high amplitude brain wave that becomes synchronized; characteristic of the beginning of stage 1 sleep

Theta waves

type of brain wave characteristic of the end of stage 1 NREM sleep, which has a moderately low amplitude and a frequency of 4-7 Hz

Stage 2 sleep

second stage of sleep; the body goes into deep relaxation; characterized by the appearance of sleep spindles

Sleep spindle

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

K-complex

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

Stage 3 sleep

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

Delta waves

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

Manifest content

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

Latent content

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

Collective unconscious

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

Lucid dreams

people become aware that they are dreaming and can control the dream's content

Insomnia

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

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

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

Parasomnia

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

Sleepwalking

(also, somnambulism) sleep disorder in which the sleeper engages in relatively complex behaviors

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)

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

Restless leg syndrome

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

Night terrors

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

Sleep apnea

sleep disorder defined by episodes during which breathing stops during sleep

Obstructive sleep apnea

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

Central sleep apnea

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

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

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

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

infant (one year old or younger) with no apparent medical condition suddenly dies during sleep

Narcolepsy

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

Cataplexy

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

Physical dependence

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

Psychological dependence

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

Tolerance

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

Withdrawal

variety of negative symptoms experienced when drug use is discontinued

Agonists

drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter

Antagonists

drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter

Depressant

drug that tends to suppress central nervous system activity

Stimulants

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

Methamphetamine

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

Euphoric high

feelings of intense elation and pleasure from drug use

Opioid

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

Opiates

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

Methadone

synthetic opioid that is less euphorigenic than heroin and similar drugs; used to manage withdrawal symptoms in opiate users

Methadone clinics

uses methadone to treat withdrawal symptoms in opiate users

Codeine

opiate with relatively low potency often prescribed for minor pain

Hallucinogen

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

Hypnosis

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

Meditation

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