APP Consciousness Vocab

Modules 23-25

biological rhythms

periodic physiological fluctuations

delta waves

the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

barbiturates

drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment

methamphetamine

a powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels

consciousness

our awareness of ourselves and our environment

circadian rhythm

the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle

suprachiasmatic nucleus

a pair of pinhead-sized clusters of 20,000 cells that control the circadian clock

melatonin

secreted by the pineal gland; sleep-inducing hormone

REM sleep

rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur; also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active

alpha waves

the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

sleep spindles

bursts of rapid, rhythmic brainwave activity during stage 2 sleep

EEG

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measure by electrodes placed on the scalp

sleep

periodic, natural, reversible loss of consciousness--as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation

hallucinations

false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus

insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

narcolepsy

a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks; the sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times

sleep apnea

a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings

somnambulism

sleepwalking

night terrors

a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, they occur during Stage 4 sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered

dream

a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind; dreams are notable for their hallucinatory imagery, discontinuities, and incongruities, and for the dreamer's delusional acceptance of the content and later difficulties remembering it

manifest content

according to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream

latent content

according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream ; Freud believed that this functioned as a safety valve

REM rebound

the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation (created by repeated awakenings during REM sleep)

psychoactive drug

a chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood

tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect

withdrawal

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug

addiction

compulsive drug craving and use

depressants

drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

opiates

opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

stimulants

drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

amphetamines

drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes

ecstasy (MDMA)

a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen; produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition

hallucinogens

psychedelic ("mind-manifesting") drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

LSD

a powerful hallucinogenic drug, also known as acid (lysergic acid diethylamide)

THC

the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations

near-death experience

an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as through cardiac arrest); often similar to drug-induced hallucinations

pineal gland

gland located in the center of the brain; secretes melatonin and serotonin

hypnagogic sensations

brief muscular contractions that occur as people fall aseep; feels like you're fallling

NREM sleep

non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep

activation-synthesis theory

a theory of dreaming; this theory proposes that the brain tries to make sense of random brain activity that occurs during sleep by synthesizing the activity with stored memories

substance use disorder

a pattern of long-term maladaptive behaviors and reactions brought about by repeated use of a substance

alcohol use disorder

(popularly known as alcoholism). Alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use.

Nicotine

a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco

Cocaine

a powerful and addictive stimulant, derived from the coca plant, producing temporarily increased alertness and euphoria