Ch 6: The Demands for Sleep

alpha brain wave pattern

associated with a relaxed, calm, internally focussed wakeful state of consciousness, especially if eyes are closed

altered state of consciousness (ASC)

any state of consciousness that is distinctly different from normal waking consciousness or any waking state in terms of level of awareness and experience

arousal threshold

an individual's sensitivity to being woken from a sleep state

biological clock

innate timing that regulates one or more biological rhythms; see also suprachiasmatic nucleus

biological rhythm

a naturally occurring cycle of physiological, psychological or behavioural changes

beta brain wave pattern

associated with alertness and intensive mental activity during normal waking consciousness; also present during REM sleep dreams

brain wave

an electrical impulse in the brain

brain wave pattern

patterns of electrical activity occurring in the brain

consciousness

a state of awareness with variations in level and associated with distinguishable psychological and physiological characteristics

circadian rhythm

a biological rhythm involving physiological, psychological or behavioural changes that occur as part of a cycle with a duration of about 24 hours

deep sleep

a period of sleep when the heart rate and breathing slow to their lowest levels, muscles are completely relaxed with barely any body movement and no eye movements

delta brain wave pattern

associated with deep, dreamless sleep or unconsciousness

electroencephalography (EEG)

a method of studying brain wave patterns by recording the electrical activity of the brain

electromyography (EMG)

a method of studying the electrical activity of muscles during sleep

electro-oculargraphy (EOG

a method of measuring eye movements or eye positions during sleep

endogenous

originating within an organism

exogenous

originating outside an organism

hypnogram

a sleep graph typically showing sleep types and stages in relation to time

induced state of consciousness

a temporary change in one's normal mental state without being considered unconscious

light sleep

the transitional stage between waking and sleeping

melatonin

a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in relation to the amount of light that is detected; influences alertness and drowsiness and timing of the sleep-wake cycle; a higher melatonin level is associated with greater drowsiness and vice versa

naturally occurring state

altered states of consciousness such as sleep, dreaming during sleep and daydreaming when awake, that are naturally occurring in the course of everyday activities without the need for any aid

normal waking consciousness

state 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;

NREM sleep

non-rapid eye movement sleep with three stages involving increasingly deeper sleep

NREM stage

sleep that occurs first and includes three stages

psychological construct

a concept, description or explanatory model that describes specific psychological activity or a pattern of associated activities or processes

REM sleep

rapid eye movement sleep

Sleep

a regularly occurring altered state of consciousness that typically occurs naturally and is primarily characterised by partial or total suspension of conscious awareness

sleep diary

a record containing self-reported descriptions from 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

sleep episode

an interval of sleep that may be voluntary or involuntary

sleep latency

the length of time it takes to transition from being awake to being asleep

sleep onset

the transition period from being awake to being asleep

sleep–wake cycle

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

states of consciousness

the different states of awareness that we experience

suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

an area of the brain's hypothalamus that regulates the timing and activity of the sleep-wake cycle (and other biological rhythms);

theta brain wave pattern

associated with drowsiness, falling asleep and creative activities

ultradian rhythm

a biological rhythm involving physiological, psychological or behavioural changes that occur as part of a cycle shorter than 24 hours

video monitoring

one or more video cameras to monitor and record externally observable physiological responses throughout a sleep episode

psychological construct

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

consciousness continuum

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

sleep cycle

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

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

a device that detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity of the brain

Electromyograph (EMG)

a device that detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity of the

body's muscles

Electro-oculograph (EOG)

a device that detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity of the muscles responsible for

eye movement