1.5 Sleep Vocabulary

conciousness

our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.

circadian rhythm (sleep/wake cycle)

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

jet lag

a maladjustment of circadian rhythms that results from traveling through several time zones in a short span of time

shift work

work scheduled during the swing shit (usually 4am to 12am) or night shit (12am to 8am)

NERM stage 1

The lightest stage of sleep where you drift in and out; may experience hallucinations or a falling sensation. alpha wave.

hypnagogic sensation

bizarre experiences, such as jerking or a feeling of falling or floating weightlessly, while transitioning to sleep. (Also called hypnic sensations.)

NERM stage 2

A deeper stage of sleep with sleep spindles (bursts of brain activity); you are more relaxed but can still be awakened. theta wave.

NERM stage 3

The deepest sleep stage (slow-wave sleep) with large delta waves; hard to wake and body restoration occurs.

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. beta wave. 

REM rebound

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

activation-synthesis (dreams)

REM sleep triggers neural activity that evokes random visual memories, which our sleeping brain weaves into stories.

consolidation theory (dreams)

Dreams help us sort out the day's events and consolidate our memories.

restoration of resources

The theory that sleep restores the body’s energy, repairs tissue, and strengthens memory and the immune system.

insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep; results in tiredness and increased risk of depression

narcolepsy

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

REM sleep behavior 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.

sleep apnea

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

somnambulism

Repeated episodes of complex motor behavior, such as walking, while asleep. Sleepwalking happens in Stage 3 sleep.