appsych unit1: consciousness, sleep, dreams, & drugs

consciousness

awareness of self + environment

circadian rhythm

24-hr biological clock; sleep/wake cycle

REM

rapid eye movement; vivid dreams; body paralyzed

paradoxical sleep

REM; brain active, body immobile

NREM1

light sleep; theta waves; hypnagogic sensations

NREM2

sleep spindles; deeper sleep; memory consolidation

NREM3

deep sleep; delta waves; growth hormone release

restoration theory

sleep restores body + repairs tissue

consolidation theory

sleep strengthens memories/learning

dream

mental story/images during sleep (mostly REM)

insomnia

trouble falling/staying asleep

narcolepsy

sudden REM sleep attacks

sleep apnea

breathing stops repeatedly during sleep

REM sleep behavior disorder

act out dreams; no paralysis

somnambulism

sleepwalking (NREM3)

activation-synthesis theory

dreams = brain makes sense of random neural firing

information-processing theory

dreams help process + store daily info

psychoactive drug

chemical alters perception, mood, consciousness

tolerance

need more drug for same effect

withdrawal

discomfort/distress after stopping drug

depressants

slow neural activity (alcohol, opiates)

stimulants

speed up neural activity (caffeine, cocaine)

hallucinogens

distort perception (LSD, marijuana)

beta

awake/alert brain waves

alpha

relaxed, drowsy brain waves

theta

light sleep waves (NREM1)

delta

deep sleep waves (NREM3)

REM rebound

extra REM after deprivation

hypnagogic sensation

falling/floating feeling before sleep

substance use disorder

continued use despite harm

psychological dependence

mental craving; emotional need

physiological dependence

physical need; tolerance + withdrawal

alcohol

depressant; slows CNS, lowers inhibitions

addiction

compulsive craving despite bad outcomes

opiates

pain-relieving depressants (morphine, heroin)

heroin

opiate; intense euphoria, high addiction risk

caffeine

stimulant; blocks adenosine; alertness ↑

cocaine

stimulant; euphoria → crash; blocks dopamine reuptake

marijuana (THC)

mild hallucinogen; relaxes, alters perception

agonist

mimics neurotransmitter; activates receptor

antagonist

blocks neurotransmitter; prevents activation

reuptake inhibitor

blocks reabsorption; ↑ neurotransmitter in synapse