Psych 101 - Quiz 2: 10 Sleeping and Dreaming

Consciousness

A state of awareness of internal states and external stimuli

Hypnosis

A state of deep relaxation, focused attention, and increased suggestibility

Used in pain management, treatment of phobias and anxiety, and forensic memory retrieval

Meditation

A set of practices that train attention, awareness, mental clarity, emotional calm, and enhanced well-being

Biological Rhythms

regular cyclical patterns in physiological and behavioral processes. controlled by internal bio-clock

Types of bio-clocks

Circadian: ~24 hours

Ultradian: <24 hours

Infradian: >24 hours

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

Hypothalamus above the optic chiasm

~20,000 neurons that maintain rhythmic firing patterns

receives direct input from retinal ganglion cells

Contains melanopsin: pigment responsive to blue light

• In response to light the SCN inhibits production of melatonin by the pineal gland

Zeitgebers

External cues that entrain or reset bio clock daily

primary zeitgeber: light

other examples: food, exercise, alarm clocks

Cognitive Theory of Sleep

• memory consolidation supported

• facilitates problem solving creative insight

• regulates emotional reactivity (REM)

Restorative Sleep Theory

• bodily recovery

• tissue repair, muscle growth, immune function

  • brain clears out metabolic waste (beta-amyloid) to prevent Alzheimer’s

Sleep Stages

Awake- low voltage high frequency

Drowsy- alpha waves

Stage 1 sleep- Theta waves

Stage 2 sleep- Spindles mixed with EEG activity

Slow wave (stage 3/4)- more delta waves

REM sleep- low voltage high frequency waves

Sleep Cycles

Each cycle lasts ~90 minutes (5 or 6 per night)

Sleep cycles begin with slow wave sleep and later on more REM sleep occurs

REM sleep and dreaming

REM sleep strongly associated with vivid/narrative dreaming

Dream recall is high during REM sleep

REM deprivation

Reduced cognitive attention and reaction time

Impaired memory consolidation and problem solving

Increased irritability and stress (cortisol)

Increased blood pressure and disruptions in autonomic nervous system