Consciousness and Sleep Study Notes

Consciousness

Awareness of oneself and their environment, with different levels and including sleep.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Neural imaging using electrodes on the scalp to record the brain's electrical activity.

fMRI

A neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

Circadian Rhythm

The body's internal clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles, which can be disrupted by factors like jet lag, and shifts depending on your age.

NREM Stage N1

The stage of sleep where one begins to fall asleep; heartbeat and breathing slow down.

Hypnagogic Sensations

Sensations you imagine are real, such as the feeling of falling, occurring during NREM Stage 1.

Sleep Stage N2

Light sleep characterized by no eye movements and body temperature drops; lasts about 25 minutes.

Sleep Stage N3

Slow Wave Sleep, the deepest sleep stage, where body is fully relaxed and no eye movements occur.

REM Sleep

The primary dreaming stage of sleep, marked by rapid eye movements and increased brain activity.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

A condition where loss of muscle atonia leads to acting out dreams.

REM Rebound

The phenomenon where an individual enters REM sleep more often or easily after a period of deprivation.

Narcolepsy

A chronic neurological disorder causing difficulty in regulating sleep-wake cycles.

Sleep Apnea

A sleep disorder that causes people to stop breathing or breathe shallowly while sleeping.

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking that occurs during deep NREM sleep (NREM Stage 3).