sleep stages and drugs

Sleep

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

circadian rhythm

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

REM

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

Hypagogic sensations

bizarre experiences, such as jerking or feeling like falling or floating weightlessly while transitioning to sleep

hallucinations

false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence

sleep spindles

bursts of rapid brain-wave activity that aid memory processing

delta waves

the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

paradoxal sleep

the body is internally aroused, with waking time brain activity, yet asleep and externally calm

suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that control the circadian rhythm. It responds to light, the SCN adjusts melatonin production, thus modifying our feeling of sleepiness

melatonin

a sleep-inducing hormone found in the hypothalamus

sleep theories

sleep protects, restores, aids memory consolidation, feeds creative thinking, supports growth, conserved energy

ghrelin

hunger arousing hormone

cortisol

stress hormone that stimulates the body to make fat, and decreases metabolic rate

sleep deprivation leads to:

increasing ghrelin, decreasing leptin (hunger suppressing), increasing cortisol, decreasing metabolic rate, disrupting gene expression, enhancing limbic brain responses to the mere sight of food, decreasing cortical responses that help us resist temptation

insomnia

reoccurring problems in falling or staying asleep

sleep apnea

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

narcolepsy

a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The affected person may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times

somnambulism

sleepwalking

REM sleep disorder

a sleep disorder in which normal REM paralysis does not occur; instead, twitching, talking, or even kicking or punching may occur, often acting out one’s dream

dreams

a sequence of visual images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping persons mind

dreams are caused by:

trauma, music, vision loss, and media experiences

sigmond freud’s theory

dreams provide a psychic safety value that discharges otherwise unacceptable feelings

information processing

dreams help sift, sort, and fix (consolidate) the days experience in our memory

psychological function

providing the sleeping brain with periodic stimulation (preserving neural pathways)

activation synthesis

dreams are the attempt to synthesize random neural activity

cognitive development

our minds top-down control of our dream outlet, stimulates reality by drawing on our concepts and knowledge

REM rebound

the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation.

psychoactive drugs

a chemical substance that alters the brain, causing changes in perceptions and moods

substance use disorder

a disorder characterized by continued substance use despite significant life disruption

tolerance

with continued use of alcohol and some other drugs (but not marijuana), users develop a tolerance as their brain chemistry adapts to the effect of the drug (neuroadaption) To experience the same effect, users require a larger and larger dose which then increases the risk of addiction/substance use disorder

addition

caused by ever increasing doses of most psychoactive drugs, (including prescriptive pain killers) Prompts user to crave the drug to continue use despite adverse consequences, and to struggle when attempting to withdraw from it. These behaviors suggest a substance use disorder. Once in the group of addiction, people want the dose more than they like the drug

depressants

drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

3 examples of depressants

alcohol, barbiturates, opiods

barbituates

drugs that depress central nervous system activity, relieving anxiety but impairing memory and judgement (Nembutal, Seconal, and Amytal)

three types of psychoactive drugs

depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens

opiods

opium and its derivatives; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety (heroine, meth, codeine, oxycotin, vicodin, morphine, fentinol)

stimulants

drugs that excite neural activity and speed up functions (caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, exctasy)

nicotine

delivered by tobacco products, highly addictive

cocaine

powerfully addictive stimulant derived from the coca plant

methamphetamine

triggers the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which stimulates brain cells that enhance energy and mood, leading to 8 hours of heightened energy and euphoria

ecstacy

a street name for MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or molly, a stimulus and mild hallucinogen-an amphetamine derivative, Ecstasy triggers dopamine release, but its major effect is releasing stored serotonin and blocking its reuptake, thereby prolonging serotonin’s feel-good flood

hallucinogen

psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

synthetic hallucinogens

LSD and MDMA

natural hallucinogen

psilocybin, ayahuasca, and the mild hallucinogen marijuana

near-death experience

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

LSD

lysergic acid diethylamide. an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors

marijuana

Marijuana leaves and flowers contain THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) the THC in a single joint may induce psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and anxiety

alcohol

Low doses of alcohol may enliven a drinker, but they do so by acting as a disinhibitor. Alcohol slows brain activity that controls judgment and inhibitions

heroine

Rush of euphoria, relief from pain. Depressed physiology, loss of natural endorphin function