PSY CH 5

Variations in Consciousness

electroencephalograph

(EEG) a device that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time

biological rhythm

periodic fluctuations in physiological functioning

circadian rhythm

24-hour biological cycles; affects sleep regulation, blood pressure, urine production, hormonal secretions, alertness, short-term memory, cognitive performance

melatonin

a hormone which appears to regulate the human biological clock

electromyograph

(EMG) records muscular activity and tension

electrooculograph

(EOG) records eye movements

electrocardiograph

(EKG) records the contractions of the heart

stage 1

which stage of sleep?: brief, transitional light sleep, ~10-12 mins

stage 2

which stage of sleep?: light sleep, ~10-25 mins, brain waves become higher in amplitude and slower in frequency

stage 3

which stage of sleep?: slow-wave sleep typically occurs in less than an hour, ~20-40 mins

REM Sleep

a “deep” stage of sleep marked by irregular breathing and pulse rate, rapid eve movements, high-frequency brain waves, and dreaming

insomnia

difficulty in falling asleep, remaining asleep; persistent early-morning awakening

narcolepsy

sudden and irresistible onsets of sleep during normal waking periods

sleep apnea

frequent reflexive gasping for air that awakens a person and disrupts sleep

somnambulism

sleepwalking

REM sleep behavior disorder

(RBD) features potentially troublesome dream enactments during REM periods

hypnosis

a systematic procedure that typically produces a heightened sense of suggestibility

disassociation

a splitting of mental processes into two separate, simultaneous streams of awareness

meditation

a family of practices that train attention to heighten awareness and bring mental processes under greater voluntary control

narcotics

(opiates) drugs derived from opium that are capable of relieving pain

sedatives

sleep-inducing drugs that tend to decrease CNS activationa nd behavioral activity

stimulants

tend to increase CNS activation and behavioral activity

hallucinogens

affects mental and emotional functioning by distorting sensationa nd perception

cannabis

the hemp plant from which marijuana, hashish, and THC are derived

alcohol

beverages with ethyl alcohol

amphetamines

increase release of dopamine and norepinephrine

physical dependence

when a person must continue to take a drug to avoid withdrawal illness

psychological dependence

exists when taking a drug to satisfy intense mental and emotional craving

wish fulfillment

(sigmund freud) principle purpose of dreams; this quality of many dreams may not be obvious due to unconscious attempts to censor and disguise the true meaning of dreams

rosalind cartwright

theorizied that dreams are an opportunity to work through everyday problems and emotional issues

activation-synthesis model

(J. Allan Hobson) theory that dreams are side effects of the neural activation that produces the beta brain waves during REM sleep