AP Psychology Unit 1.5 (Sleep)

consciousness

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

cognitive neuroscience

The study of the brain activity linked with mental processes such as thinking, memory, and perception.

dual processing

The principle that information is often processed simultaneously on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.

blindsight

The ability to respond to visual information without consciously seeing it, usually because of damage to the visual cortex.

parallel processing

The brain's ability to process many aspects of information at the same time.

sequential processing

The processing of information step-by-step, with one piece of information being handled before the next.

sleep

A periodic, natural loss of consciousness during which the body and brain undergo changes that restore and maintain functioning.

circadian rhythm

The roughly 24-hour biological clock that regulates cycles such as sleep and wakefulness.

REM sleep

A recurring sleep stage characterized by rapid eye movements, increased brain activity, and vivid dreaming; also called paradoxical sleep.

alpha waves

The relatively slow brain waves associated with relaxed, awake states; they commonly occur when a person is awake with their eyes closed.

NREM sleep

Non-rapid-eye-movement sleep, which includes the lighter and deeper stages of sleep.

hallucinations

False sensory experiences, such as seeing or hearing something that is not actually present.

hypnagogic sensations

Vivid sensory experiences that occur as a person is falling asleep, such as feeling like you are falling or hearing a sound.

delta waves

Large, slow brain waves associated with deep NREM sleep.

suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

A group of neurons in the hypothalamus that acts as the body's main circadian clock and helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

insomnia

A sleep disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting enough sleep.

narcolepsy

A sleep disorder involving sudden, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep, sometimes accompanied by sudden loss of muscle control.

sleep apnea

A sleep disorder in which a person repeatedly stops breathing during sleep, often causing brief awakenings and daytime tiredness.

REM sleep behavior disorder

A sleep disorder in which a person physically acts out dreams during REM sleep because the normal muscle paralysis of REM is reduced or absent.

dream

A sequence of images, thoughts, and emotions that occurs during sleep, especially during REM sleep.

Sigmund Freud

A psychoanalytic theorist who proposed that dreams provide a way for unconscious wishes and conflicts to be expressed.

REM rebound

The tendency to spend increased amounts of time in REM sleep after being deprived of REM sleep.