sleep as a psychological construct

What is consciousness

• the level of awareness an individual has over their thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and existence

How is consciousness described in psychology

• a psychological construct that is continuous, ever-changing, and a highly personal experience

What is a psychological construct

• an agreed upon description and understanding of psychological phenomena that cannot be directly measured or observed

What are the two main types of consciousness

• normal waking consciousness (NWC)

• altered states of consciousness (ASC)

What is normal waking consciousness (NWC)

• a state of consciousness in which an individual is awake and aware

What is an altered state of consciousness (ASC)

• a state of consciousness that is distinctly different from normal waking consciousness in terms of quality of experience and levels of awareness

What are the two categories of altered states of consciousness

• Naturally occurring

• Induced altered states of consciousness

What is a naturally occurring altered state of consciousness

• a type of ASC that occurs without intervention

What is an induced altered state of consciousness

• a type of ASC that occurs due to a purposeful action or aid

Give examples of naturally occurring altered states of consciousness

• Sleep

• Daydreaming

Give examples of induced altered states of consciousness

• Meditation

• Hypnosis

• The influence of alcohol and/or drugs

What does the consciousness continuum represent

• It is a visual representation of the different states of consciousness that progress from lower levels of awareness to higher levels of awareness

How can consciousness be reflected

• Consciousness can be reflected by a continuum

draw consciousness as a continuum

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What is sleep

• a regular and naturally occurring altered state of consciousness that involves a loss of awareness and disengagement from internal and external stimuli

Why is sleep considered a psychological construct

• Because the subjective experience of sleep cannot be directly measured, yet it is widely understood and acknowledged to exist

Name one characteristic of sleep related to behaviour

• A reduced ability to control behaviour

What happens to our control over thoughts during sleep

• There is a reduction in control, such as lacking control over what we dream about

How is our sense of time affected during sleep

• We have a less accurate understanding of the passage of time

What types of distortions can occur during sleep

• Perceptual and cognitive distortions

What are the two different types of sleep

• REM (rapid eye movement) sleep

• NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep

What characterises REM sleep

• Rapid eye movement, high levels of brain activity, and low levels of physical activity

What is somatic nervous system activity like during REM sleep

• It is low, meaning there are low levels of physical movement

What characterises NREM sleep

• A lack of rapid eye movement and lower levels of brain activity compared to REM sleep

How many stages does NREM sleep have

• Three stages:

• NREM stage 1

• NREM stage 2

• NREM stage 3

How is the brain and body activity described during REM sleep

• The brain is highly active and the body is less active

What happens to muscle movement during REM sleep

• The sleeper is virtually paralysed; most muscle movement is not possible

Is REM sleep light or deep

• REM is a relatively light stage of sleep; sleepers can be woken fairly easily

When do vivid dreams typically occur

• During REM sleep

How much of a sleep episode is typically spent in REM sleep

• Approximately 20–25%

How does the amount of REM sleep change throughout the night

• It increases as the night progresses, with the longest REM periods occurring before waking

How is brain activity during NREM sleep compared to waking consciousness

• The brain is less active than during normal waking consciousness

Is physical movement possible during NREM sleep

• Yes, physical movement is possible and the body is more active than in REM sleep

What happens to movement as NREM stages progress

• Movement tends to decrease

Can dreams occur during NREM sleep

• Yes, but they are often non-vivid and less frequently recalled

When is the most NREM sleep experienced during the night

• During the first half of a sleep episode

How much of a sleep episode is typically spent in NREM sleep

• Approximately 75–80%

How does the length of NREM sleep change through the night

• It tends to become shorter with each sleep cycle

How many stages is NREM sleep divided into

• Three stages:

• NREM Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3

What is a sleep episode

• A sleep episode is the full duration of time spent asleep

What is a sleep cycle

• A sleep cycle is an approximately 90-minute period that repeats during a sleep episode, in which an individual progresses through stages of REM and NREM sleep

What makes up a sleep episode

• Multiple repeated cycles of REM and NREM sleep, called sleep cycles

Draw a diagram of a sleep cycle

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What is the first stage of a sleep cycle

• Stage 1 NREM sleep

How often does the sleeper enter stage 1 NREM sleep during a sleep cycle

• Usually only at the beginning of the sleep episode

What is the order of progression through the NREM stages during a sleep cycle

• Stage 1 → Stage 2 → Stage 3 → back to Stage 2 → REM sleep

What is the hypnagogic state

• A transitional state between wakefulness and sleep, often involving sensations like floating, falling, or a sudden jerk (hypnic jerk)

What characterises NREM Stage 1 sleep

• Light sleep, loss of awareness of self and surroundings, but awareness of faint sounds; easy to wake

How long does NREM Stage 1 typically last

• Approximately 2–10 minutes

What characterises NREM Stage 2 sleep

• Light sleep, considered the stage of 'true' sleep due to specific brain wave patterns

In which stage do people spend most of their sleep time

• NREM Stage 2

How long does NREM Stage 2 typically last

• 20–30 minutes

What characterises NREM Stage 3 sleep

• deep sleep, difficult to wake from, with possible occurrences of sleepwalking and sleep talking

How does a person typically feel if woken during NREM Stage 3

• Drowsy and disoriented

How long does NREM Stage 3 typically last

• 20–40 minutes

Theory summary

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