chapter 6 glossary

consciousness

level of awareness of our thoughts, feelings and perceptions (internal environment) and surroundings (external environment) at any given moment

psychological construct

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

normal waking consciousness

state of consciousness in which an individual is awake and aware of the thoughts, feelings and perceptions from internal events and surroundings

altered state of consciousness

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

naturally occurring altered states of consciousness

a type of altered state of consciousness that occurs without intervention

induced altered states of consciousness

type of alterted state of consciousness that occurs due to a purposeful action or aid

consciousness continuum

visual representation of the different states of consciousness that progress from lower levels of awareness to higher levels of awareness

sleep

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

REM sleep

type of sleep characterised by rapid eye movement, high levels of brain activity and low levels of physical activity

NREM sleep

type of sleep characterised by a lack of rapid eye movement and is subdivided into three different stages

sleep episode

full duration of time spent asleep

sleep cycle

approximately 90-minute period that repeats during a sleep episode in which an individual progresses through the stages of REM and NREM sleep

electroencephalography

device that detects, amplified, and records the electrical activity of the brain

electromyograph

device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of the body’s muscle

electro-oculography

device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of the muscles response for eye movement

sleep diaries

record containing self reported descriptions form an individual about their sleeping periods, including an estimated time spent sleeping and judgements they might have about the quality and nature of their sleep

video monitoring

the use of camera and audio technologies to record and individual as they sleep

biological rhythms

cyclical changes in bodily functions or activities that repeat themselves through time and are regulated by an internal system

circadian rhythms

biological, physical, mental and behavioural changes that occur as a part of a cycle that lasts around 24 hours

sleep-wake cycle

a 24 hour cycle that is made up of time spent sleeping and time spent awake and alert

ultradian rhythms

physical, mental, biological and behavioural changes that occur or are repeated in a cycle that lasts less than 24 hours

sleep episode

the full duration of time spent asleep, from falling asleep until waking up

suprachiasmatic nucleus

an area of the hypothalamus that is responsible for regulating an individuals sleep-wake cycle

pineal gland

gland in the brain responsible for the production and release of melatonin

melatonin

hormone released by the pineal gland typically at night time to induce sleep as part of the sleep wake cycle

coritsol

a hormone that is responsible for increasing alertness and maintaining heightened arousal