PSYCH 3/4 U4 AOS1

psychological construct

a concept that cannot be objectively measured by collection of data, but is widely understood to exist.

normal waking consciousness

a state associated with being aware of our internal and external environments.

altered states of consciousness

comprises any states that differ in levels of awareness compared to normal waking consciousness.

naturally occurring altered state of consciousness

an altered state of consciousness that occurs without any external influence.

induced altered state of consciousness

an altered state of consciousness that has been caused on purpose.

sleep

naturally occurring and reversible altered state of consciousness, characterised by a reduction in awareness and responsiveness to external surroundings.

NREM sleep

a type of sleep characterised by a progressive decline in psychological activity.

NREM 1

transitional phase between sleep and wakefulness; a light sleep.

• physiological responses slow down (heart rate, body temp.)

• if not disturbed in N1, a person quickly moves to N2.

NREM 2

• relatively light

• comprises majority of a person’s sleep

• bursts of brain activity can help resist being woken by external stimuli.

NREM 3

• deep sleep

• physiological responses and brain activity are slowest

• hardest to wake people up

REM

characterised by a quick darting of the eyes behind eyelids + increase in physiological activity.

• brain activity resembles wakefulness

• dreams are vivid

• voluntary muscles ‘paralysed’; intermittent twitching

it’s thought that our mind repairs itself during this stage.

Hypnogram

a line graph that represents ‘stages of sleep’ plotted against ‘time’.

polysomnography

a multi-parameter sleep study used as a diagnostic tool in sleep medicine.

electroencephalography (EEG)

a technique that detects, records and amplifies electrical activity of the brain.

beta :O

high environmental stimulation, normal wakefulness, brain doing multiple things at once.

• highest frequency

• lowest amplitude

alpha :)

low environmental stimulation, awake but relaxed, drowsy

• high frequency

• low amplitude

theta ;|

senses withdrawn from environment, low alertness, light sleep

• low frequency

• high amplitude

delta B|

lowest alertness, deep sleep, dreamless

• lowest frequency

• highest amplitude

electromyography (EMG)

detects, records and amplifies electrical activity of skeletal muscles

electrooculography (EOG)

detects, records and amplifies electrical activity of muscles controlling the eyes.

sleep diary

a subjective self-report tool used by someone to track their own sleep-wake patterns.

video monitoring

a sleep study tool used to collect qualitative visual and audio information about a person’s sleep.

circadian rhythm

biological processes that coordinate timing of body activities over a 24 hr period.

ultradian rhythm

biological processes that coordinate the timing of body activities over a period of 24hrs or less.

SCN (superchiasmatic nucleus)

the body’s master clock which regulates body activities to a daily schedule of sleep and wakefulness.

• influenced by external cues, zeitgebers

zeitgeber

an environmental cue such as light, temperature and eating patterns that can synchronise and regulate the body’s circadian rhythm.

melatonin

a hormone that induces drowsiness and reduces cell activity.

life span

the period of time a person is alive

newborn: 0-3 months

14-17 hrs

50 REM 50 NREM

• sleeps a lot due to rapid growth and development

• high REM: boosts brain development, consolidates learning and memory.

• muscle twitches that occur in REM help develop the sensorimotor system

infant: 4-11 months

12-16 hrs

60-70 NREM

30-40 REM

• circadian rhythm continues to develop into a more regular wake-sleep cycle

toddler: 1-2yrs

11-14hrs

70-75 NREM

25-30 REM

• the proportion of REM has had its greatest decline; from here it will decrease marginally.

preschooler: 3-5 yrs

10-13 hrs

75 NREM

25 REM

• timing of circadian rhythm may advance

• daytime napping may stop

school age children: 6-13yrs

9-11hrs

80 NREM

20 REM

• timing of circadian rhythm gradually delays

adolescent: 14-17yrs

8-10 hrs

80 NREM

20 REM

• delay in circadian rhythm due to a hormonally determined shift in melatonin release

• going out with friends/ studying late at night

leads to later bedtimes

young adult: 18-25yrs

7-9 hrs

80 NREM

20 REM

• sleep patterns influenced by studying, social activities, work, increased independence

• [melatonin] declines after puberty

adult: 26-64

7-9 hrs

80 NREM

20 REM

• sleep patterns influenced by: caring for children, work, health problems and family dynamics

• N3 begins to be replaced by N2 and [melatonin] decreaseso

old adult: 65+ yrs

7-8

80-82 NREM

18-20 REM

• sleep influenced by health problems, retirement, bereavement, medications, decreased social interaction, changed living conditions

• circadian phase advance

• more awakenings, increased sleep latency

• N3 may be completely replaced by N2

• [melatonin] decreased; may be the cause for impaired sleep, not necessarily because the body needs it less.

partial sleep deprivation

the experience of achieving inadequate quality or quantity of sleep.

affective functioning

a person’s experience of their emotions.

behavioral functioning

a person’s observable actions

• misbehavior

• hyperactivity

• impulsivity/ risk-taking behaviour

• sluggishness, languor, fatigue

cognitive functioning

a person’s mental processing

• memory

• attention, alertness

• concentration

• judgment

• motivation

blood alcohol concentration (BAC)

the % of alcohol in the bloodstream.

• in VIC: for driving, need a BAC under 0.05%

circadian rhythm sleep disorders

a category of sleep disorders where disrupted sleep occurs because an individual’s circadian rhythm and sleep wake cycle are misaligned.

bright light therapy

a therapy that can be used to treat sleep disorders, where a person is exposed to bright light to reset the cycle.

delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS)

a disorder characterised by a delay in the timing of sleep onset and waking compared with the desired time.

advanced sleep phase disorder (ASPD)

a disorder characterised by an advance in the timing of sleep onset and waking compared with the desired time.

• symptoms will get more severe if the individual’s schedule and circadian rhythm are misaligned.

shift work

work that regularly takes place out of normal business hours, especially at night and in the early morning.

• can cause circadian rhythm to be ‘flipped around’ — nocturnal

• affects 5-10% of the population

sleep hygiene

sleep related behaviours and environmental conditions that are beneficial for sleep.

daylight

all indirect and direct sunlight during the daytime.

blue light

part of the visible light spectrum that is emitted from devices, LED and fluorescent light bulbs and sunlight.