AP Psych

Consicousness

our awareness of various cognitive processes such as sleeping,dreaming, concentrating, and making decisions;typically use to describe being alert

NREM Sleep (Non-Rem)

non rapid eye movement stages of sleep that alternates with REM stages during the sleep cycles

Dreams

visual and auditory images created by the mind during sleep; often 2 hours a night are spent a night dreaming ( not in a row ); 4-5 vivid dreams during REM; life like dreams occur during NREM sleep

Altered States of Consciousness

mental state that differs noticeably from normal waking consciousness;

Examples:sleep,daydreaming,dreaming,meditation,hypnosis,influence of drugs and alcohol

Insomnia

sleep disorder;difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep through the night;typically caused by stress and are temporary; treated with prescription medication or relaxation techniques; side effects include anxiety,memory loss,hallucinations, and violent behaviors

Daydreaming

effortless shifts in attention away from the here-and-now into a private world of make-believe; urge comes in waves, surging every 90 min, peaks between 12-2 pm

Sleep Apnea

sleep disorder; characterized by difficulty breathing, snoring, & exhaustion during the day because breathing stops during sleep and individual wakes to just under waking consciousness; individual also complain of depression, sexual dysfunction, difficulty concentrating, and headaches

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

sleep disorder that causes people to act out in their dreams, vocalization, frightening dreams, and other physical movements

Somnambulism

sleepwalking

REM paradoxical sleep

physically resembles waking consciousness in measures; characteristics: sleep paralysis, vivid and intense dreams, rapid eye movements; occurs about 4/5 times a night; infants spend more time in REM than any other age

Narcolepsy

hereditary sleep disorder; characteristics: sudden falling asleep into REM, loss of muscle tone following moments of emotion (joke, anger, sex), hallucinations (are often aware)

Meditation

alternative method of concentration,relation,suppresses SNS

Effects-lowers heart/respiratory rate

Tolerance

requirement of higher doses of drugs to produce the original effects or prevent withdrawal symptoms

Hypnosis

altered or trance like state: where a person who is open to suggestions

Withdrawal symptoms

unpleasant physical or psychological effects following discontinued use of a drug, can include shakes, blood pressure/heart rate changes

Psychoactive drugs

chemical substances that change or alter people’s moods, perceptions, mental functioning, or behavior

NREM Stage 1

first stage of non rapid eye movement sleep characterized by drifting in and out of sleep, lasting only a few minutes

NREM Stage 2

second stage of non rapid eye movement characterized by LIGHT sleep, lasting 20 minutes

Hypnic Jerks

brain waves slows down, muscles relax, and individuals may experience sudden muscle contractions ( happens during NREM Stage 1)

Sleep Spindles and K-Complexes

when brain waves slow down in Stage 2 of NREM, short burst of activity come out

sudden,sharp waveforms appear

Circadian Rhythm

the natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours. it influences patters if ALTERNESS,HORMONE RELEASE, BODY TEMP., and other PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES.

Jet Lag

a temporary disruption of the body’s circadian rythym due to rapid rebake across multiple time zones.

result in fatigue, sleep disturbances, and difficulty concentrating as the body adjusts

Shift Work

employement schedules that require working outside of typical daytime hours, often disrupting the body’s natural circadian rhythm

Restoration of Resources

the process during sleep where the body and brain replenish energy,repair tissues, and remove waste products,promoting physical and mental well-being

REM ( Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep

a stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and muscle paralysis

it is also associated with increased brain activity, including dreaming, and plays a role in memory consolidation and emotional processing

REM Rebound

phenomenon where the body increases the time spent in REM sleep after the period of REM deprivation

occurs as a compensatory response to the lack of REM sleep, often resulting in more intense and frequent REM sleep episodes

How does Light influence the Pineal Gland?

causes the pineal gland to increase or decrease production of the hormone melatonin

Activation Synthesis

theory proposing dreams are the result of random neutral activity in the brain stem during REM sleep, which is interpreted and formed by the cerebral cortex into a story

Consolidation Theory

a theory suggesting dreams play a role in they memory consolidation and processing of memories. during sleep, the brain organizes and intergrates information acquired throughout the day, contributing to memory storage and learning

psychoactive drugs

drugs that alter perception and mood (changes consciousness)

psychological dependence

psychological need for a drug for example to relieve negative emotions

Addiction

compulsive drug craving

Tolerance

diminishing effect with regular use

Withdrawal

discomfort and distress that follow discontinued use

Neurotransmitters

chemicals that use neurons use to communicate with other each other

with using drugs, they can change the way our transmitters work

Agonist

BIND to receptor sites and MIMIC neurotransmitters

Antagonists

BIND to receptor sites and BLOCK neurotransmitters from binding

Stimulants

drugs that increase neural activity and arousal, leading to higher alertness, attention, and energy levels

CAFFEINE, METHAMPHETAMINES, COCAINE,MDMA, NICOTINE

Depressants

drugs that slow down neural activity and bodily functions.

they induce relaxation,sedation, and can lower inhibition

ALCOHOL,ANTIDEPRESSANTS, ANTIHISTAMINES

Hallucinogens

drugs that alter perception,mood, and cognitive processes, often causing hallucinations

MARIJUANA, LSD, SALVIA,KETAMINE

Opioids

Psychoactive drugs that act an opioid receptors in the brain and body, producing pain relief, euphoria, and sedation

Light striking the retina causes the __________(a tiny neural center in the hypothalamus) to alter the production of biologically active substances, such as melatonin production by the pineal gland

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus