AP Psych - Unit 1.5 Test (Sleep)

Consciousness

Subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment

• Sleep and wakefulness are types of consciousness

Circadian Rhythm

24hr biological cycle, controls sleep-wake, body temp, and hormone levels over the day.

• SCN tells pineal gland of light hitting retina, pineal gland reduces or increases melatonin

• Body temp peaks during day, & cools approaching evening

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

Pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadium rhythm.

In response to light, causes pineal gland to adjust melatonin production, allowing more wakefulness

Sleep Stage 1

NREM 1 -

• Hallucinations, hypnagogic sensations

• Lasts 1-5 minutes

alpha EEG waves transition to theta waves

Sleep Stage 2:

NREM 2 -

• Bursting sleep spindles (usually repeats after stage 3)

• Lasts 10-60 minutes

theta EEG waves with sleep spindles

Sleep Stage 3:

NREM 3 -

• Slow delta waves (deep sleep)

• Sleepwalking can occur during this stage

• Lasts 20-40 minutes

Sleep Stage 4:

REM (Paradoxical) Sleep -

• Rapid Eye Movement sleep (vivid dreams)

• Muscles relaxed - like paralyzed but not fully

• Happens ~90 mins after falling asleep

Paradoxical Sleep

Sleeping body, active mind

(REM sleep)

REM Rebound

Tendency of REM to increase following REM sleep deprivation

• Created by repeated awakenings during REM sleep

NREM Sleep

Non-rapid eye movement (all sleep stages except for 4)

• Slow breathing & irregular brain waves

• Could experience hallucinations or hypnagogic sensations while transitioning to sleep

Hypnagogic Sensations

Hearing or seeing things that seem real while in state between waking & sleeping

Insomnia

Persistent problems in falling asleep or maintaining sleep

• DON’T take melatonin

Narcolepsy

Uncontrollable sleep attacks (can be triggered by strong emotions)

• Random sleepiness throughout the day

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Sleep disorder with physical acting out of dreams during REM

Sleep Apnea

REM Sleep behavior disorder - normal sleep muscle paralysis does not occur

• Twitching, talking, punching

• Sleepwalking

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking occurs during NREM-

• Usually harmless, few recall their sleepwalking trips in the morning

Current Theories of Sleep

Suggest sleep is useful for organizing and consolidating memories or restoring depleted resources used throughout the day

• Memory Consolidation Theory

• Activation-Synthesis Theory of dreaming