States of Consciousness

Consciousness

our awareness of ourselves and our environment

Circadian rhythm

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

jet lag

a disruption of circadian rhythms due to crossing time zones

shift work

jobs require working outside typical day hours; disrupts circadian rhythms

NREM stage 1

non-rapid eye movement sleep; drifting in and out of sleep; verge of sleep but awake

hypnagogic sensations

life-like hallucinations that occur shortly after falling asleep; usually sensation of falling or floating

NREM stage 2

light sleep; sleep spindles in EEG patterns - sudden bursts of brain activity

NREM stage 3

early phase of deep sleep, snoring, relaxed muscle tone, little/no physical movement, difficult to arouse

REM sleep

rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active

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

Sleep apnea

a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep.

REM sleep behavior disorder

sleep disturbance in which the mechanism responsible for paralyzing the body during REM sleep is not functioning, resulting in the acting out of dreams.

Somnambulism

sleep walking

REM rebound

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

Activation-synthesis hypothesis

Suggests that in the brain engages in a lot of neural activity that is random. Dreams make sense of this activity.

Consolidation theory

Dreams involve memory consolidation and processing; brain organizes and integrates information from the day

Psychoactive drug

a chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods.

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.

Withdrawal

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug.

Addiction

compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences.

Depressants

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

Opioids

opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.

Stimulants

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

Hallucinogens

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

THC

the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations.

Agonists

drugs which mimic the activity of neurotransmitters

Antagonists

drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter

Reuptake inhibitors

Drugs that interfere with the reuptake of neurotransmitters in the synapse so that a greater amount remains in the synapse

Caffeine

a mild stimulant found in coffee, tea, and several other plant-based substances

Cocaine

a powerful and addictive stimulant, derived from the coca plant, producing temporarily increased alertness and euphoria

Alcohol

depressant; slows CNS activity; impairs judgement, coordination, and cognitive function

Heroin

highly addictive opioid drug; causes euphoria, pain relief and sedation