Sleep: Conciousness, Stages, Theories, Disorders

Consciousness

our awareness of ourselves and our environment

Dual Processing

processing information simultaneously on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

Serial/Sequential Processing

conscious and deliberate

Parallel Processing

unconscious and automatic

Circadian Rhythm

regular body rhythms (wakefulness, temperature, etc.) that occurs on a 24-hour cycle

SCN (Suprachiasmatic Nucleus)

serves as the primary "master clock" or circadian pacemaker in mammals, controlling the body's natural 24-hour biological rhythms

Waking Beta Waves

fast, low-amplitude electrical brain activity ranging from 12 to 30 Hz (cycles per second) that dominate when you are awake, alert, and actively engaged in conscious thought

Waking Alpha Waves

electrical brain rhythms oscillating at a frequency of 8 to 13 hertz (Hz) that occur when you are awake, calm, and resting with your eyes closed

Stage: NREM1

light sleep-hypnagogic sensations (falling, kicking)

Stage: NREM2

easy to wake up, but definitely asleep

Stage: NREM3

DEEPEST SLEEP (bed wetting, sleep talking, walking)

Stage: REM

dream sleep

REM Rebound

when you've started at REM due to sleep deprivation

Sleep Deprivation

when you don't get enough sleep

Insomnia

recurring problems in falling asleep or staying asleep

Narcolepsy

uncontrollable sleep attacks

Sleep Apnea

cessations of breathing during sleep

Somnambulism

a person performs motor acts or complex behaviors while in a state of deep, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep

Activation-Synthesis Theory

making sense of random neural activity

Consolidation Theory

learning and rehearsing the day's events/new information