States of Consciousness and Perception

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on states of consciousness and perception.

Consciousness

Awareness of yourself and your environment.

Biological Rhythms

Natural body cycles, such as sleep, temperature, and hormones.

Circadian Rhythms

24 hour cycle of biological processes including sleep-wake patterns.

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

Brain structure in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythms.

Pineal Gland

Gland that releases melatonin and regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Sleep Stages

Stages of sleep including NREM and REM sleep.

REM Sleep

Rapid Eye Movement sleep, characterized by increased brain activity and dreaming.

Sleep Deprivation

Condition resulting from inadequate sleep leading to various cognitive and physical effects.

Insomnia

Most common sleep disorder, characterized by trouble falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

Sleep disorder marked by sudden sleep attacks directly into REM sleep.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep disorder where breathing stops during sleep, often seen in overweight individuals.

Dream Theories

Different perspectives on the purpose of dreams, including wish-fulfillment and information processing.

Tolerance

The need for more of a drug to achieve the same effect.

Withdrawal

Symptoms experienced when stopping a drug after physical dependence.

VTA (Ventral Tegmental Area)

Brain region involved in reward processing and addiction.

Visual Cliff

A test used to assess depth perception in infants.

Schema

Mental framework that organizes knowledge and guides cognitive processes.

Bottom-up Processing

Perception that starts with sensory input and builds to a final interpretation.

Top-down Processing

Perception that is influenced by expectations and prior knowledge.

Gestalt Psychology

A psychological approach that emphasizes that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Color Constancy

The ability to perceive the color of an object as constant under varying lighting conditions.