VCE Psychology Unit 4 AOS 1 Revision Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering all key terms, physiological measures, sleep lifespan patterns, circadian disorders, sleep hygiene, research methodologies, ethical concepts, and key science skills for VCE Psychology Unit 4 AOS 1.

Sleep

A naturally occurring altered state of consciousness characterized by reduced awareness and responsiveness to the external environment.

Circadian rhythm

A biological rhythm that involves changes in bodily functions or activities that occur as part of a 24-hour cycle (e.g., the sleep-wake cycle).

Ultradian rhythm

A biological rhythm that involves changes in bodily functions or activities that occur as part of a cycle shorter than 24 hours (e.g., the 90-minute sleep cycle).

Melatonin

A hormone secreted by the pineal gland that plays a key role in regulating sleep-wake cycles by inducing sleepiness.

REM (Rapid Eye Movement sleep)

A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, high-frequency brain waves, muscle paralysis (atonia), and dreaming.

NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep)

A category of sleep consisting of three distinct stages characterized by physical restoration, slower brain waves, and lower physiological activity compared to REM.

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

A master biological clock located in the hypothalamus that regulates circadian rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycle, by controlling pineal melatonin release.

Psychological construct

A concept or idea that describes something that cannot be directly observed or measured, but is inferred from observable behaviors and physiological responses.

Consciousness

The personal awareness of internal thoughts, feelings, and sensations, as well as external stimuli and surroundings, at any given moment.

Normal Waking Consciousness (NWC)

The state of consciousness associated with being awake and aware of internal and external stimuli, characterized by organized and logical thought processes.

Altered States of Consciousness (ASC)

Any state of consciousness that is distinctly different from normal waking consciousness in terms of level of awareness, perception, memory, or cognitive processing.

Naturally occurring ASC

An altered state of consciousness that occurs without artificial intervention, such as sleep, daydreaming, or naturally occurring dreaming.

Induced ASC

An altered state of consciousness achieved through deliberate intervention or artificial means, such as medication, alcohol, hypnosis, or meditation.

Hypnograms

A graph that displays the sequence and duration of sleep stages experienced during a period of sleep as a function of time.

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

A device that detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity of the brain over time, displayed as brain wave patterns.

Electromyograph (EMG)

A device that detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity of muscles to measure muscle tension and movement.

Electro-oculograph (EOG)

A device that detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity of muscles controlling eye movements.

Sleep Diaries

A subjective self-report record where an individual logs their sleep and wake times, quality of sleep, and related daily behaviors.

Video Monitoring

An observational measurement tool used to record physical movements, posture changes, and behavioral responses during sleep.

Frequency (Brain waves)

The number of brain wave cycles or peaks per second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

Amplitude (Brain waves)

The height or intensity of brain wave peaks and troughs, representing the magnitude of electrical activity.

Beta waves

High-frequency, low-amplitude brain wave patterns associated with normal waking consciousness, active thinking, and high alertness.

Alpha waves

Medium-to-high frequency and low-to-medium amplitude brain wave patterns associated with relaxed, calm, or meditative states with eyes closed.

Theta waves

Low-to-medium frequency and medium-to-high amplitude brain wave patterns associated with deep relaxation and early light sleep stages.

Delta waves

Very low-frequency, high-amplitude brain wave patterns characteristic of deep, slow-wave NREM Stage 3 sleep.

NREM Stage 1

The lightest stage of NREM sleep, characterized by a transition from wakefulness to sleep, decreased awareness, hypnic jerks, and theta brain wave activity.

NREM Stage 2

A light stage of sleep characterized by reduced body temperature and heart rate, sleep spindles, K-complexes, and predominantly theta brain waves.

NREM Stage 3

Deep slow-wave sleep characterized by the presence of delta brain waves, muscle relaxation, physical restoration, and high awakening thresholds.

Sleep pattern of Infants

Characterized by high total sleep duration (around 16 hours/day) with approximately 50% spent in REM sleep.

Sleep pattern of Children

Total sleep duration decreases to around 10 to 11 hours per night, with REM sleep decreasing to about 20% to 25%.

Sleep pattern of Adolescents

Sleep needs average around 8 to 10 hours, accompanied by a delayed sleep phase shift caused by delayed evening melatonin release.

Sleep pattern of Adults

Total sleep averages approximately 7 to 8 hours per night, with roughly 20% REM sleep and 80% NREM sleep.

Sleep pattern of Older Adults

Total sleep duration decreases to around 6 to 7 hours, with a significant reduction in NREM Stage 3 deep sleep and frequent night awakenings.

Affective functioning (Partial Sleep Deprivation)

The psychological impact of sleep loss on emotional processing, resulting in amplified emotional responses, mood swings, irritability, and poor emotional regulation.

Behavioural functioning (Partial Sleep Deprivation)

The impact of sleep loss on behavior, leading to reduced speed and accuracy, microsleeps, slower reaction times, and increased risk-taking.

Cognitive functioning (Partial Sleep Deprivation)

The impact of sleep loss on mental processes, leading to impaired attention, reduced working memory capacity, poor decision-making, and lower problem-solving ability.

Full sleep deprivation

A total lack of sleep for at least 24 hours, leading to severe cognitive and affective impairments equivalent to high blood-alcohol levels.

Blood-alcohol concentration (BAC)

A measure of the concentration of alcohol present in a person's bloodstream, expressed as grams of alcohol per 100 mL of blood.

Affective functioning BAC

Emotional regulation impairment resulting from alcohol consumption, causing emotional instability, lowered inhibitions, and exaggerated emotional responses.

Cognitive Functioning BAC

Impairment of cognitive processes, concentration, reasoning, judgment, and processing speed caused by alcohol intake.

Comparison between partial/total sleep deprivation and BAC levels

17 hours of sleep deprivation produces cognitive performance impairments equivalent to a BAC of 0.05%, while 24 hours of total sleep deprivation is equivalent to a BAC of 0.10%.

Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder (ASPD)

A circadian rhythm disorder where an individual's sleep-wake cycle is shifted earlier than desirable, causing early evening sleepiness and early morning awakening.

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS)

A circadian rhythm disorder where an individual's sleep-wake cycle is shifted later than desirable, causing difficulty falling asleep and difficulty waking at required morning times.

Shift work

Work schedules outside traditional daytime hours (e.g., night shifts) that disrupt the body's natural circadian rhythm sleep-wake pattern.

Bright light therapy

A treatment for circadian rhythm sleep disorders using timed exposure to high-intensity light to shift or reset the sleep-wake cycle via SCN melatonin suppression.

Zeitgeber

An external environmental cue, such as daylight or temperature, that synchronizes the body's internal biological circadian rhythms.

Daylight (as a zeitgeber)

Natural light that signals daytime to the SCN, suppressing melatonin release from the pineal gland and promoting alertness.

Blue light

High-energy visible light emitted by electronic screens and sunlight that strongly suppresses melatonin production and delays sleep onset.

Temperature (as a zeitgeber)

Rhythmic core body temperature fluctuations that interact with environmental temperatures to signal timing to the internal biological clock.

Eating Drinking (as a zeitgeber)

Meal timing and consumption patterns that act as secondary environmental cues influencing metabolic rhythms and sleep-wake scheduling.

Sleep Hygiene

Practices and routines that promote consistent, high-quality, and restful sleep, such as maintaining regular bedtimes and avoiding screen exposure before sleep.

Case study

An in-depth, detailed investigation of a single individual, group, or event to analyze real-life phenomena.

Classification and Identification

A research methodology involving the systematic arrangement of phenomena or objects into sets, categories, or systems based on specific criteria.

Correlational study

A non-experimental research method used to measure and analyze the statistical association or relationship between two or more variables without manipulation.

Controlled Experiment

An experimental investigation testing cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating an independent variable while controlling extraneous variables.

Within-subjects design

An experimental design in which each participant is exposed to all conditions or levels of the independent variable.

Between-subjects design

An experimental design in which participants are randomly assigned to separate groups, with each participant experiencing only one condition.

Mixed design

An experimental design that incorporates features of both within-subjects and between-subjects designs.

Fieldwork

A research methodology involving primary data collection in natural, real-world settings outside a controlled laboratory environment.

Literature Review

A systematic collation, examination, and critical evaluation of existing secondary research literature on a specific topic.

Modelling

A methodology involving the construction of physical, conceptual, or computational representations to help explain or predict complex systems.

Product, process or system development

A methodology focused on designing or optimizing a specific artifact, process, or system to meet a practical target or solve a problem.

Simulation

A method using a real or theoretical model to replicate a real-world system or process to observe how it operates under varying conditions.

Beneficence

An ethical principle requiring researchers to maximize potential benefits while minimizing potential harm and risks to participants.

Integrity

An ethical principle requiring honest, accurate, and transparent reporting of research findings and methodologies.

Justice

An ethical principle demanding fair distribution of research benefits and burdens, without unfair discrimination against any group.

Non-maleficence

An ethical principle prioritizing the avoidance or minimization of harm, discomfort, or distress to research participants.

Respect

An ethical principle recognizing and honoring the intrinsic value, autonomy, privacy, and rights of all participants.

Tables

Structured visual arrangements of rows and columns used to organize and present categorical or numerical data clearly.

Bar charts

Visual graphs using rectangular bars of varying heights or lengths to compare discrete categories or groups of data.

Line graphs

Visual graphs using continuous line segments connecting data points to display trends or changes over continuous variables like time.

Accuracy

The closeness of a measured value or experimental result to the true or accepted value.

Precision

The closeness of agreement among independent, repeated measurement results obtained under identical or similar conditions.

Repeatability

The closeness of agreement between results obtained from repeated measurements of the same item conducted under identical conditions by the same investigator.

Reproducibility

The closeness of agreement between results obtained from repeated measurements of the same item conducted under changed conditions (e.g., different researchers or equipment).

Validity

The extent to which a research study or measurement tool accurately measures what it claims to measure, producing sound and true results.

Systematic errors

Predictable or constant errors in measurement that cause readings to differ consistently from the true value in one direction.

Random errors

Unpredictable and chance variations in measurement that affect precision equally in positive or negative directions.

Personal errors

Mistakes or faults made by the experimenter during data collection, calculation, or observation, such as misreading an instrument.

Conclusion

A formal decision or judgment regarding whether the experimental hypothesis was supported or rejected, based on the analyzed data.

Generalisation

A broad statement extending experimental findings from a sample to the broader target population from which the sample was drawn.