Ch5 U1 States of Conciousness (Barron's AP Psych 2025)

Priming

When exposure to one stimulus influences how you respond to another, related stimulus.

Blind sight

When people can respond to visual information without consciously seeing it, usually due to brain damage.

Consciousness

Your awareness of yourself and your surroundings.

Psychoactive drugs

Chemicals that affect the brain and change mood, perception, or behavior.

Agonists

Drugs that mimic or boost the effects of a neurotransmitter.

Antagonists

Drugs that block or reduce the effects of a neurotransmitter.

Reuptake

The process of reabsorbing neurotransmitters back into the neuron after they've been released.

Tolerance

When more of a drug is needed to get the same effect.

Withdrawal

Unpleasant symptoms that occur when stopping or reducing a drug after dependence.

Caffeine

A stimulant that increases alertness by blocking sleep-inducing chemicals.

Cocaine

A powerful stimulant that increases dopamine and causes intense energy and euphoria.

Stimulants

Drugs that speed up the nervous system, like caffeine, nicotine, and amphetamines.

Alcohol

A depressant that slows brain activity and impairs judgment and coordination.

Depressants

Drugs that slow down the nervous system and reduce alertness (e.g., alcohol, tranquilizers).

Hallucinogens

Drugs that cause sensory distortions or hallucinations (e.g., LSD, psilocybin).

Marijuana

A drug that has depressant, stimulant, and mild hallucinogenic effects; affects memory and coordination.

Opiates

Drugs that relieve pain and cause euphoria by mimicking endorphins (e.g., morphine, heroin).

Heroin

A highly addictive opiate that causes intense euphoria and pain relief.

Circadian rhythm

The body's internal 24-hour clock that regulates sleep, temperature, and other functions.

NREM stage 1

The lightest stage of sleep, where you drift in and out and may experience muscle twitches.

NREM stage 2

A deeper stage of sleep with slower brain waves and sleep spindles.

NREM stage 3

The deepest sleep stage, also called slow-wave sleep; important for physical recovery.

Restoration of resources

The theory that sleep helps the body and brain recover and replenish energy.

REM—rapid eye movement

A sleep stage where dreaming occurs, the brain is active, and the body is paralyzed.

Paradoxical sleep

Another name for REM sleep, because the brain is active but the body is still.

REM rebound

The body's tendency to spend more time in REM sleep after being sleep-deprived.

Insomnia

Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting restful sleep.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder where a person suddenly falls into REM sleep during the day.

Sleep apnea

A disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking; walking or doing other activities while in deep sleep.

Activation-synthesis theory

The idea that dreams are the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity.

Consolidation theory

The theory that sleep helps strengthen and store memories.