CED Section 2 - Consciousness

levels of consciousness

terms used to describe alterations of consciousness caused by injury, disease, or substances such as medication, drugs, or alcohol; sleep, wakefulness

circadian rhythm

the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle

NREM Stage 1

alpha and theta waves; lasts only a few minutes, person quickly gains consciousness, most common hypnagogic hallucination during this time is the sensation of falling, which is accompanied by a myoclonic jerk which often awakes the person

NREM Stage 2

theta and start of delta waves; start of true sleep, sleep spindles in EEG patterns - sudden bursts of brain activity

NREM Stage 3

muscles relax, blood pressure and breathing rate drop, deepest sleep occurs; delta waves

REM

rapid eye movement; describes sleep in which vivid dreams typically occur; this type of sleep increases as the night progresses while stage 3 sleep decreases

paradoxical sleep

REM when muscles are deeply relaxed but there are high levels of brain activity

REM rebound

the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation (created by repeated awakenings during REM sleep)

activation synthesis theory

theory that dreams reflect inputs from brain activation originating in the pons, which the forebrain then attempts to weave into a story

consolidation theory

Circuits wired together during the waking period are consolidated, or strengthened, during sleep; STM is transferred to LTM during dreaming

why we sleep

to protect, to restore and repair (restoration), to remember (memory consolidation), to grow

Insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

REM sleep behavior disorder

a neurological disorder in which the person does not become paralyzed during REM sleep and thus acts out dreams

sleep apnea

a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings

somnambulism

the condition of walking or performing some other activity without awakening; also known as sleepwalking

stimulants

Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

depressants

drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

hallucinogens

psychedelic ("mind-manifesting") drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

marijuana

A plant whose leaves, buds, and flowers are usually smoked for their intoxicating effects; mild hallucinogen

Opiods (narcotics)

Heroin, morphine; short term: relief anxiety/pain, euphoria

tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect

addiction

A physiological or psychological dependence on a drug

withdrawal symptoms

Unpleasant physical reactions, combined with intense drug cravings, that occur when a person abstains from a drug on which he or she is physically dependent.