Modules 9 and 10: Sleep, Dreams, and Psychoactive Drugs

Vocabulary flashcards covering biological rhythms, sleep stages, sleep disorders, dream theories, psychoactive drug classifications, and specific substances based on the lecture notes.

Sleep

A natural, periodic loss of consciousness during which the brain continues processing information.

Circadian rhythm

Our body's 24-hour biological clock that controls when we feel awake and sleepy, which light helps regulate.

SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus)

The brain area that controls the circadian rhythm and controls melatonin release.

N1 stage

The lightest sleep stage, during which one may experience hallucination-like sensations.

N2 stage

A deeper sleep stage that includes sleep spindles.

N3 stage

Deep sleep stage that produces slow delta waves.

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, during which the most vivid dreaming occurs.

Insomnia

A sleep disorder characterized by ongoing trouble falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by sudden, uncontrollable sleep attacks.

Sleep apnea

A sleep disorder characterized by repeatedly stopping breathing during sleep.

Dreams

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts occurring during sleep.

Wish fulfillment

Freud's theory that dreams express unconscious desires, composed of manifest content and latent content.

Manifest content

The remembered storyline of a dream according to Freud's wish fulfillment theory.

Latent content

The supposed hidden meaning of a dream according to Freud's wish fulfillment theory.

Information processing

A dream theory proposing that dreams help process daily experiences and memories.

Physiological function

A dream theory suggesting that REM activity may help make sense of random neural activity during REM sleep.

Cognitive development

A dream theory proposing that dreams reflect our knowledge, thinking, and brain development.

REM rebound

The increased amount of REM sleep experienced after being deprived of REM sleep.

Psychoactive drugs

Chemical substances that affect the brain and nervous system, altering perceptions or moods by affecting neurotransmitters.

Substance use disorder

A disorder characterized by continued substance use despite causing major problems and significant life disruption.

Tolerance

Needing more of a drug over time to achieve the same effect.

Addiction

Compulsive substance use or behavior despite harmful consequences.

Withdrawal

Unpleasant physical or psychological effects experienced after stopping an addictive substance.

Depressants

A major category of drugs that slow brain activity and body functions, depressing the fight-or-flight system.

Stimulants

A major category of drugs that speed up brain and body activity, activating the fight-or-flight system.

Hallucinogens

A major category of drugs that distort perception and create sensory experiences.

Homeostasis

Stable inner equilibrium that anchors the understanding of how drugs affect us.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter described as being only really good if it is surprisingly good.

Nicotine

A stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug found in tobacco products.

Cocaine

A powerful and addictive stimulant derived from the coca plant that 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.

Ecstasy

A synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen.