AP Psychology Sleep Review

A collection of vocabulary flashcards summarizing key concepts about sleep from the AP Psychology curriculum.

Circadian Rhythm

The natural 24-hour cycle that regulates sleep and wakefulness in the body.

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

The part of the brain that controls the circadian rhythm.

NREM Sleep

Non-rapid eye movement sleep, consisting of three stages including light sleep, intermediate sleep, and deep sleep.

REM Sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, important for memory, dreaming, and characterized by increased brain activity and muscle atonia.

Sleep Disorders

Health conditions such as insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, REM sleep behavior disorder, and somnambulism that disrupt normal sleep patterns.

Memory Consolidation

The process during sleep where the brain stabilizes and integrates new information into memory.

Sleep Rebound

The phenomenon where a person experiences longer or more intense REM sleep following a period of REM deprivation.

Jet Lag

The temporary sleep disturbance that occurs after crossing time zones, resulting from a mismatch between the internal circadian rhythm and the new local time.

Sleep Spindles

Sudden bursts of brain activity observed during NREM sleep.

Hypnagogic Sensations

Sensations of falling or floating that can occur as one begins to fall asleep.

Atonia

Loss of muscle tone that occurs during REM sleep to prevent acting out dreams.

Cognitive Impacts of Sleep Disorders

Reduced attention span and impaired decision-making caused by lack of sleep.

Physical Effects of Sleep Disorders

Issues like weakened immune system, weight gain, and cardiovascular problems due to poor sleep.

Emotional Consequences of Sleep Disorders

Mood swings, irritability, increased anxiety, and heightened risk of depression resulting from inadequate sleep.

Activation-Synthesis Theory

Theory suggesting that dreams are the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity.

Memory Processing During Sleep

The clearing away of unnecessary information and strengthening of important connections during sleep.

Somnambulism

A sleep disorder also known as sleepwalking, where a person walks or performs other activities while in a state of sleep.