defs for sleep

Consciousness

Level of awareness has over thoughts, feelings, perceptions and existence, “Psychological Construct”, cannot directly be observed, inferred from other measures. Reflected on a continuum.

Consciousness continuum: A visual representation of the different states of consciousness, from lower levels of awareness to higher levels of awareness. 

Psychological construct

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

Sleep cannot directly be observed/measured but rather inferred from other measures.

Consciousness divided into 2 types: 

-       Normal Waking Consciousness (NWC): consciousness in which an individual is awake and aware. Relatively organised, meaningful and clear. Experience during NWC creates your reality and provides a baseline to judge other states of consciousness.

-       Altered States of Consciousness (ASC): consciousness that is distinctly different from NWC in terms of quality of experience and levels of awareness. Deviates from NWC- marked by levels of awareness, perceptions, memories, thinking, emotion, behaviours and sense of time. can be: Naturally occurring, Induced.

Naturally occurring ASC and Induced ASC:

A type ASC that occurs without intervention.

A type ASC that occurs due to a purposeful action or aid.

Characteristics of REM sleep:

sleep a type, characterised by rapid eye movement, high levels of brain activity, and low levels of physical activity. Virtually paralysed during REM sleep, muscle movement not possible. Vivid dreaming occurs, able to recall when woken during REM sleep. Approx. 20% of sleep (increases as each sleep episode progresses).

Characteristics of NREM sleep:

sleep a type of sleep characterised by a lack of rapid eye movement and is subdivided into three different stages, less active brain then NWC, physical movement is possible (decreases as NREM stages progress). Non-vivid dreams can occur, not recalled when sleeper awoken during NREM sleep. NREM takes approx 80% of sleep episode. Becomes shorter with each sleep cycle.

Sleep cycle

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

acronym of DARE for eegs, eogs, emgs.

detect, amplify, record, electrical activity of …

Electroencephalography (EEG):

Device that detects, amplifies and records electrical activity of the brain. Neurons communication is shown through electrical impulses (detected by EEG as brain waves). Researcher attached electrodes to the outside of a person's head. 

Electromyography (EMG):

Detects, amplifies and records electrical activity in muscles of the body. Electrodes attached to skin above muscles. Muscle movement can be used to identify different stages/types of sleep through how active a person's muscles are. 

Electro-oculography (EOG):

Detects, amplifies and records electrical activity in muscles responsible for eye movement. Electrodes are attached to the skin above the muscles. Eye movements are a physiological response that can be used to investigate the sleep that is being experienced. REM & NREM is distinguished by eye movement. 

Sleep diaries

self reported descriptions from an individual about their sleeping periods (estimated time spent sleeping, judgements about quality and nature of their sleep). subjective measure

Info like duration, quality, thoughts before/after sleep, behaviours before/after sleep, amount of times sleep was interrupted.

Less reliable than objective measures and may be inaccurate due to self-reporting.

Provide both qualitative & quantitative information (often provide more extensive qualitative information). 

Video monitoring

subject or objective measure (textbook = objective, edrolo = subjective)

Use of camera and audio technologies. 

Tracks sleeping periods including sleep/wake periods movements/sounds and activities when asleep. 

Useful for those with sleep disorders. Interpretation of video footage may be subjectivity depending on analysis process.

Sleep deprivation

Inadequate quantity and/or quality of sleep. Also mean type of sleep experienced and presence of sleep disruptions. 

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)

like sleep deprivation

measure of how much alcohol is in someone’s bloodstream. Alcohol is depressant drug and will slow down the nervous system & decrease alertness, concentration, reflexes & decision making. 

Compared effect of BAC & Sleep Deprivation.

Found that: 

BAC of 0.05 is roughly equivalent to 17 hours of sleep deprivation (PSD) 

BAC of 0.10 is roughly equivalent to 24 hours of sleep deprivation (FSD)

The higher the BAC the more individual’s cognition and affect might be impaired.

Sleep disorders

Are disturbances in typical sleeping and waking patterns. 

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders

sleep disorders that interfere with typical regulation of the circadian rhythm of sleep, leading to a change in the sleep-wake cycle.

Cause	Effect
Caused by disruption to sleep-wake cycle. Due to biological issues (sleep-wake shift)  Lifestyle changes (shift work)	Experience some form of sleep deprivation.  · Amplified emotions  · Fatigue  · Irritability . Reduced ability to concentrate.  Disruptive to individuals’ life schedule.

Shift work

An occupation that involves working at unusual hours. Forces individuals to be awake when their body's internal clock is programmed for sleep, creating a misalignment between their work schedule and their natural circadian rhythm.

Misalignment can lead to a circadian rhythm sleep disorder, characterised by excessive sleepiness/fatigue during work hours (and/or insomnia when trying to sleep during the day)

Zeitgebers

external cues from the environment that influence the circadian rhythm. Promote sleepiness and wakefulness at appropriate times. 

Daylight (in relation to zeitgebers)

Typical light an individual is exposed to during the day, and is mostly natural blue light.

Blue light (in relation to zeitgebers)

a type of light that can be emitted both naturally and artificially.

Temperature (in relation to zeitgebers)

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

Eating and drinking patterns (in relation to zeitgebers)

what, when, and how much food and drink is consumed by an individual.

Biological Rhythms:

Repeated biological processes that are regulated by internal mechanisms. 2 types of biological rhythms.