Psychology Chapter 4

alpha wave

type of brain wave characteristic during the early part of NREM stage 1 sleep, which has fairly low amplitude and a frequency of 8–12 Hz

beta wave

type of brain wave characteristic during wakefulness, which has a very low amplitude and a frequency of 13–30 Hz

circadian rhythm

biological rhythm that occurs over approximately 24 hours

cognitive-behavioral therapy

psychotherapy that focuses on cognitive processes and problem behaviors that is sometimes used to treat sleep disorders such as insomnia

collective unconscious

theoretical repository of information shared by all people across cultures, as described by Carl Jung

consciousness

awareness of internal and external stimuli

delta wave

type of brain wave characteristic during stage 3 NREM sleep, which has a high amplitude and low frequency of less than 3 Hz

depressant

drug that tends to suppress central nervous system activity

evolutionary psychology

discipline that studies how universal patterns of behavior and cognitive processes have evolved over time as a result of natural selection

hallucinogen

one of a class of drugs that results in profound alterations in sensory and perceptual experiences, often with vivid hallucinations

homeostasis

tendency to maintain a balance, or optimal level, within a biological system

hypnosis

state of extreme self-focus and attention in which minimal attention is given to external stimuli

jet lag

collection of symptoms brought on by travel from one time zone to another that results from the mismatch between our internal circadian cycles and our environment

K-complex

very high amplitude pattern of brain activity associated with stage 2 sleep that may occur in response to environmental stimuli

latent content

hidden meaning of a dream, per Sigmund Freud’s view of the function of dreams

lucid dream

people become aware that they are dreaming and can control the dream’s content

manifest content

storyline of events that occur during a dream, per Sigmund Freud’s view of the function of dreams

meditation

clearing the mind in order to achieve a state of relaxed awareness and focus

melatonin

hormone secreted by the endocrine gland that serves as an important regulator of the sleep-wake cycle

non-REM (NREM)

period of sleep outside periods of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

pineal gland

endocrine structure located inside the brain that releases melatonin

psychological dependence

emotional, rather than a physical, need for a drug which may be used to relieve psychological distress

rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

period of sleep characterized by brain waves very similar to those during wakefulness and by darting movements of the eyes under closed eyelids

rotating shift work

work schedule that changes from early to late on a daily or weekly basis

sleep

state marked by relatively low levels of physical activity and reduced sensory awareness that is distinct from periods of rest that occur during wakefulness

sleep debt

result of insufficient sleep on a chronic basis

sleep rebound

sleep-deprived individuals will experience shorter sleep latencies during subsequent opportunities for sleep

sleep regulation

brain’s control of switching between sleep and wakefulness as well as coordinating this cycle with the outside world

sleep spindle

rapid burst of high frequency brain waves during stage 2 sleep that may be important for learning and memory

sleepwalking

(also, somnambulism) sleep disorder in which the sleeper engages in relatively complex behaviors

stage 1 sleep

transitional phase that occurs between wakefulness and sleep; the period during which a person drifts off to sleep

stage 2 sleep

the body goes into deep relaxation; characterized by the appearance of sleep spindles

stage 3 sleep

deep sleep characterized by low frequency, high amplitude delta waves

stimulant

drug that tends to increase overall levels of neural activity; includes caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine

theta wave

type of brain wave characteristic of the end of stage 1 NREM sleep, which has a moderately low amplitude and a frequency of 4–7 Hz

tolerance

state of requiring increasing quantities of the drug to gain the desired effect

withdrawal

variety of negative symptoms experienced when drug use is discontinued