AP Psychology: Sleep and Sensation Vocabulary

A complete set of AP Psychology vocabulary flashcards covering Topic 1.5 (Sleep) and Topic 1.6 (Sensation).

Consciousness

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Circadian Rhythm

The body's natural 24-hour cycle that regulates sleep and wakefulness.

Types of Consciousness (Sleep/Wake)

Different levels of awareness during wakefulness and sleep.

Disruptions to Circadian Rhythm (Jet Lag)

Sleep problems caused by traveling across time zones and changing the body's normal rhythm.

Sleep Stages (EEG Patterns)

Different stages of sleep identified by patterns of brain-wave activity.

NREM Stages 1–3

Sleep stages that progress from light sleep to deep sleep.

Hypnagogic Sensations

Vivid images, sounds, or feelings experienced while falling asleep.

REM Sleep (Paradoxical Sleep)

A sleep stage with rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and brain activity similar to being awake.

Dreaming

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

REM Rebound

Increased REM sleep after being deprived of REM sleep.

Activation-Synthesis Dream Theory

The theory that dreams result from the brain trying to make sense of random neural activity during REM sleep.

Consolidation Dream Theory

The idea that dreams may help process and strengthen memories and learning.

Sleep Function (Consolidation/Restoration)

Sleep helps strengthen memories and restore the body and brain.

Sleep Disruption Effects

Problems caused by poor sleep, such as difficulty concentrating, mood changes, and weaker memory.

Sleep Disorders

Conditions that interfere with normal sleep.

Insomnia

Persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

A disorder involving sudden, uncontrollable episodes of sleep during the day.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

A disorder in which a person physically acts out dreams during REM sleep.

Sleep Apnea

A disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking; walking or performing other behaviors while asleep.

Sensation

The process of detecting physical energy from the environment through sensory receptors.

Threshold (Absolute Threshold)

The minimum stimulation needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time.

Transduction

The process of converting sensory information into neural signals.

Just Noticeable Difference (JND)

The smallest difference between two stimuli that a person can detect 50% of the time.

Sensory Adaptation

Reduced sensitivity to a constant, unchanging stimulus.

Weber's Law

The principle that the JND is a constant proportion of the original stimulus.