AP Psych Sleep Vocab

Consciousness

The state of being aware of and able to think and perceive one's surroundings, thoughts, and feelings. It encompasses various levels of awareness, including wakefulness and sleep states.

Hypnosis

A state of focused attention and increased suggestibility, often accompanied by relaxation. It can be used for therapeutic purposes or to alter perception and behavior. NOT ASLEEP

Uses of Hypnosis

Includes pain management, anxiety reduction, and habit control. It is INEFFECTIVE for memory recovery.

Circadian Rhythms

Biological processes that follow a 24-hour cycle, regulating sleep-wake patterns, hormone release, and other physiological functions. Sunlight resets this cycle. Teens and adults have different cycles and you shift around age 20. Jet lag and shift work disrupt circadian rhythms

Jet Lag

Disrupts your circadian rhythm due to time zone change. It takes one day for every hour to get back to your normal cycle.

Shift-work

People who do overnight shifts have disrupted circadian rhythms.

Melatonin

The brain secretes melatonin which is the sleep hormone. Darkness causes the body to produce more. Taking melatonin consistently halts brain production and it takes a while to restart.

EEG machine

Electroencephalogram. Tool that uses electrodes on your scalp to record the electric activity of the brain. Reads brain waves.

Beta waves (Betty)

Awake

Alpha waves (and)

Drowsy

Theta waves (Tom)

light sleep, produced during stage one sleep and stage two sleep.

Delta waves (date)

deep sleep

Non-rem sleep

80% of your sleep time is spent here. Divided into three different stages. Stage 1, stage 2, stage 3

Stage 1 sleep

Lightest stage of sleep. Theta waves. You are still aware of your environment. Only lasts 1-5 mins and you only experience it a couple times a night. During this time you have mild hallucinations called Hypnagogic sensations.

Stage 2 sleep

Lasts about 20 mins, theta waves, you spend the most time in this stage. Feels like real sleep and your body is relaxed with the body temperature dropping and heart rate dropping.

Stage 3 sleep

Delta waves, deepest level of sleep. As the night goes on this stage gets shorter and then disappears. REM and stage 2 get longer. This stage restores bodies growth.

Hypnagogic Sensations

Mild hallucinations during stage one sleep. Feeling of falling and jerking and twitching.

REM Sleep

Rapid Eye Movement. This is when dreams occur, your heart rate rises and breathing becomes rapid. Your brain responds to dreams as if they are real. 20% of sleep time is here. Around 5 cycles every night that last between 15-45 mins.

Paradoxical sleep

Another term for REM Sleep because it is confusing how the brain is so active but the body has no reaction at all. If someone were to film you while dreaming, you could be running for your life in your dream and be completely still in real life.

REM rebound

The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation. You will dream a lot!!

Why do we sleep?

Sleep RESTORES and aids MEMORY CONSOLIDATION. While you’re asleep your body gets the chance to heal and organize itself. Restores and rebuilds memories of the days experiences. Consolidation is a delta wave thing.

Activation-synthesis Theory

Dreams are the brains attempt to make sense of random electrical signals during REM sleep.

Consolidation Theory

Newly learned information is stabilized and organized into long term memory. Literally consolidating info.

Insomnia

Persistent problems falling and staying asleep. Effects 1 in 5 adults. Caused by stress, circadian disruption, medical problems, substance abuse, etc. Sleeping pills typically aggravate the problem.

Narcolepsy

Excessive sleepiness and falling asleep at unpredictable times. Usually lasts less than 5 mins. Danger of cataplexy which is the loss of muscle control. Directly into REM sleep.

REM sleep behavior disorder

Normal REM paralysis does not occur, and instead people act out their dreams with twitching talking punching. 1 in 100 people.

Sleep apnea

Stopping breathing during sleep for 10 seconds or longer. Affects 1 in 20 people. They wake up and gasp for air, then fall back asleep. Severe cases require surgery while less severe ones can sew tennis balls to their backs or use a breathing aid.

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking. 1 in 15 people are affected. Occurs during stage 3 sleep. They can just sit up and appear awake while actually being asleep or they can get up and walk, doing more complex things like changing, using the bathroom, driving, eating, and more. It is NOT dangerous to wake a sleepwalker. Injury is pretty common.

Psychoactive drugs

Chemicals that alter the brain. Three categories are depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogen.

Tolerance

Regular use of the same dose of the drug diminishes the effect, and it requires larger and larger doses in order to feel something.

Addiction

Compulsive s

Withdrawls

The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behaviors.

Depressants

Drugs that calm neural activity and slow down the body. Alcohol and opioids are depressants.

Alcohol

Slows brain activity that controls judgement. Causes 3 million deaths yearly. Increases harmful tendencies. Memory disruption. Reduced Self awareness.

Opioids

Temporarily lessen pain and anxiety, depressing neutral activity. Heroin is an opioid. Antagonist for endorphins and if repeatedly taken, the brain will stop producing them entirely.

Heroine

An opioid. Causes bliss and pleasure to replace pain and anxiety. The users pupils constrict(smaller), breathing slows, and lethargy sets in.

Stimulants

excites neural activity and speeds up the body. Pupils are dialated, heart and breathing rates increase, blood sugar rises, and so do energy and self confidence. Caffeine and cocaine are stimulants.

Caffeine

Worlds most consumed psychoactive substance. Mild doses last 3-4 hours. Impairs sleep, boosts blood pressure. Creates tolerance and withdrawals.

Cocaine

Addictive stimulant that enters the bloodstream quickly and produces a rush of euphoria. After an hour users experience a crash of depression.

Hallucinogens

distorts perceptions and evokes sensory images. Psychedelic. Marijuana is a hallucinogen.

Marijuana

Can be consumed or inhaled. Contains THC, amplifies sensitivity, lingers in the body for a week, impairs coordination.