U4 AoS 1 - The demand for sleep + Importance of sleep for mental wellbeing

Psychological construct

A concept/description that is constructed to describe a specific psychological activity/patterns of activity that is believed to occur/exist but cannot be directly observed

Consciousness

Our awareness of objects and events in the external world, and of our own sensations, mental experiences and existence at any given moment. Consciousness can be described as personal, selective, continuous and changing.

Normal Waking Consciousness (NWC)

States of consciousness associated with being awake and aware of objects and events in the external world and of one's sensations, mental experiences and own existence. Includes all states of consciousness involving heightened awareness.

Altered State of Consciousness (ASC)

State of conscious that is distinctly different from NWC in terms or level of awareness and experience

Naturally occurring ASC

ASC that occurs without intervention

Induced ASC

ASC intentionally achieved through some kind of aid

Sleep

a regularly occurring ASC that typically occurs naturally and is characterised by partial or total suspension of conscious awareness which is reversible and results in perceptual disengagement from the environment

EEG (electroencephelograph)

A device that detects, amplifies and records general patterns of electrical activity of the brain over a period of time, representing it as brain waves

EMG (electromyograph)

A device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of muscles

EOG (Electro-oculograph)

A device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity in eye muscles that control eye movements

Sleep diaries

Records from an individual containing qualitative descriptions of the amount and nature of their sleep over a period of time

Video monitoring

A type of data collection involving video and sound recordings of an individual in their sleeping period

Biological rhythms

Cyclic changes in bodily functions/activities that repeat themselves over time in the same order

Circadian rhythm

A biological rhythm that involves changes in bodily functions/activities that occur as part of a cycle with a duration of 24 hours

Ultradian rhythm

A biological rhythm that involves changes in bodily functions/activities that occur as part of a cycle with a duration of less than 24 hours

Entrained

When a biological clock is reset and matched to an environmental cycle or changes due to the influence of a zeitgeber

Diurnal rhythm

When a  circadian rhythm is synchronised with the day and night cycle

Zeitgebers

External environmental cues that help maintain the biological clock to a 24 hour day and give the body a sense of time

SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus)

An area of the hypothalamus considered to be the master  biological clock that regulates the timing and activity of the sleep-wake and body temperature cycles

Melatonin

A hormone produced by the pineal gland  involved in the initiation of sleep and in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle

Sleep cycle (not slide definition)

A sleep period/phase comprising of NREM and REM sleep that occurs during/within a sleep episode and is normally repeated a number of times depending on the duration of sleep

Sleep episode (not slide def)

An interval of sleep, starting with sleep onset and ending with a final awakening, that may be voluntary or involuntary

Sleep wake cycle (quizlet)

The 24 hour daily sleep pattern which consists of approximately 16 hours of daytime wakefulness and 8 hours of night-time sleep

Sleep cycle (quizlet)

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

Sleep deprivation

A state caused by inadequate quantity or quality of sleep, either voluntarily or involuntarily

Partial sleep deprivation

Having had less sleep (either quantity or quality)  than what is normally required

Total sleep deprivation

Not having any sleep at all over a short or long-term period (awake for 1 or more days)

Sleep inertia

Performance impairment that occurs immediately after waking up

Microsleep

Brief period of sleep lasting a few seconds

Fatigue

Persistent feeling of lack of energy and tiredness

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders

A group of sleep disorders involving sleep disturbance that is primarily due to a mismatch between an individual’s sleep-wake pattern and the pattern that is desired or required

DSPS (Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome)

Condition in which the major sleep episode is delayed in relation to the desired sleep time/what is considered to be a conventional time

Sleep onset insomnia

Difficulty falling asleep despite having adequate time and opportunity for sleep

ASPD (Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder)

A persistent disturbance of the sleep-wake cycle characterised by an advance of the major sleep episode to an earlier time compared to the desired/conventional sleep time

Shift work disorder

Circadian rhythm disruption that occurs as a result of work shifts being regularly scheduled during the usual sleep period, overlapping with all or part of the major sleep episode

Bright Light Therapy

A treatment for circadian rhythm sleep disorders involving timed exposure of the eyes to intense but safe amounts of light

Sleep hygiene

The practices and habits that promote an individual’s sleep patterns and maintain full daytime wakefulness, including adjusting behavioural and environmental factors to promote good sleep quantity and quality

Mental wellbeing

An individual’s psychological state, involving their ability to think, process information and regulate emotions

Temperature

The degree of external heat in the environment that can influence the quality and quantity of sleep