ap psych: sleep and sensation

What hormone is primarily responsible for regulating the sleep-wake cycle?

Melatonin.

Where is melatonin produced?

In the pineal gland.

What factors influence melatonin production?

Exposure to light and darkness.

What is the circadian rhythm?

The body’s natural 24-hour cycle regulating sleep, wakefulness, and other physiological processes.

Name two factors that can disrupt circadian rhythms.

Jet lag and shift work.

What are the three main theories on why we sleep?

1. Restorative theory.

2. Evolutionary theory.

3. Information processing and memory consolidation.

What are the stages of the sleep cycle?

1. Non-REM Stage 1.

2. Non-REM Stage 2.

3. Non-REM Stage 3 (deep sleep).

4. REM sleep.

During which stage of sleep does most dreaming occur?

REM sleep.

What physiological activities increase during REM sleep?

Brain activity, heart rate, and breathing rate.

Which sleep stage is most associated with memory consolidation?

REM sleep.

What are the six basic tastes?

Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami, and oleogust.

Which taste is associated with sugars and carbohydrates?

Sweet.

What does umami taste represent?

The taste of glutamate, found in savory foods like meats and cheese.

What is the recently discovered taste linked to fats?

Oleogust.

What theory explains how the spinal cord regulates pain signals?

Gate Control Theory of Pain.

How does the spinal cord "gate" pain signals?

By blocking or amplifying signals before they reach the brain.

What phenomenon describes feeling sensations in an amputated limb?

Phantom limb sensation.

What are the two pain pathways?

1. Fast pathway (sharp, immediate pain).

2. Slow pathway (dull, throbbing pain).

How do painkillers typically work?

By blocking the fast pain pathway.

Name two psychological factors that can influence pain perception.

Stress and mood.

What sense helps us maintain balance and perceive body orientation in space?

Vestibular sense.

Where are the vestibular receptors located?

In the semicircular canals of the inner ear.

What sense helps us perceive the position and movement of our body parts?

Kinesthetic sense.

Where are kinesthetic receptors located?

In muscles, tendons, and joints.

How do the vestibular and kinesthetic senses work together?

They maintain balance and enable coordinated movement.