Ch 8 - Wakefulness and Sleep

Endogenous circannual rhythm

your body's internal yearly clock that helps it prepare for things that happen during different seasons

Pontomesencephalon ponto = pons; mesencephalon = midbrain

A brainstem region involving the pons and midbrain that helps keep you awake and alert.

Locus coeruleus (Hocus pocus)

a small brainstem area that helps you stay alert and respond to dangerous or stressful events.

Basal forebrain (base camp)

Contains groups of cells that help regulate wakefulness and sleep.

Endogenous circadian rhythm ( endo = inside ; circadian = cycle of day)

your body's built-in clock that follows a roughly 24-hour cycle

Zeitgeber (time giver)

(an external cue like sunlight or the moon) stimulus that resets circadian rhythm

Pineal gland (PINE DOWN FOR THE NIGHT)

endocrine gland that releases melatonin

Melatonin

hormone that influences both circadian and circannual rhythms

Coma

extended period of unconsciousness with a low level of brain activity

Vegetative state (Limited response)

condition in which someone alternates between wakefulness and sleep but shows only limited responsiveness

Minimally conscious state (small signs of awareness)

condition of decreased brain activity with occasional periods of purposeful actions and limited speech comprehension

Brain death

condition with no sign of brain activity and no response to any stimulus

Polysomnograph (Poly = Plenty Of sleep signals)

records brain activity (EEG) and eye movements during sleep.

Alpha wave (Alpha = AHHH, relax!!)

steady series of brain waves that is associated with being relaxed but awake with eyes closed

K-complex (Knock it out)

a sharp brain wave that briefly knocks out neuronal firing during sleep

Sleep spindle (spin in bursts)

series of 12 to 14 Hz brain waves in bursts that last at least half a second

Paradoxical sleep (Opposites)

sleep that is deep in some ways and light in others (brain is active; body is sleep)

rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (REM=Really Energetic Mind)

rapid eye movements, high brain activity, and relaxed large muscles; brain awake body sleep. the stage it happens

non-REM (NREM) sleep (opposite of REM)

stages of sleep other than that with high brain activity and large muscle relaxation

Reticular formation (Ready Mode)

structure that increases arousal and attention in various forebrain areas

Orexin (OR Else you’ll fall asleep)

neurotransmitter that increases wakefulness and arousal (keeps you awake)

PGO wave (Powerful waves GO)

big electrical bursts during REM sleep

Insomnia (in bed, no sleep)

trouble sleeping

Sleep apnea (Apnea = Air Pauses)

breathing keep pausing in n out during sleep

Narcolepsy

falls asleep randomly

Periodic limb movement disorder (periodic = repeats; limb = arms or legs; movement = twitching or kicking)

sleep disorder characterized by repeated involuntary movement of the legs and sometimes the arms

Night terror (Terrified at night)

screaming from intense fear during sleep

Activation-synthesis hypothesis (Activation = activity; Synthesis = story)

idea that the brain makes a story from random activity

Neurocognitive hypothesis (New memories + less outside input (thinking) = dreams)

Your brain keeps thinking about things you've recently experienced, even while you're asleep, when you're receiving less information from the outside world.