Psychology of Consciousness, Sleep, and Drugs

A complete list of vocabulary flashcards covering consciousness states, sleep cycles, sleep disorders, hypnosis, meditation, biofeedback, and substance use based on lecture notes.

Preconscious

Material that is not currently in awareness, but is readily available (like a memory in the back of your mind).

Unconscious

Material unavailable to awareness under most circumstances, characterized by not being aware or being in a state of unresponsiveness.

Nonconscious

Bodily processes that cannot be experienced through sensory awareness, such as heart rate and blood pressure.

Circadian Rhythm

A cycle connected with the 24-hour period of Earth's rotation that regulates wakefulness and sleep.

Melatonin

A hormone triggered by darkness to aid sleep, whose production can be disrupted by phone brightness.

Nonrapid Eye Movement (NREM) Sleep

The first four stages of sleep, where Stage 1 is the lightest and Stage 4 is the deepest.

Rapid-Eye-Movement (REM) Sleep

A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements (paradoxical sleep) where 80% of people awakened report dreams.

Hypnagogic State

A state that may be experienced during Stage 1 sleep as brain waves slow down from alpha waves to theta waves.

Sleep Spindles

Brain wave features that appear during Stage 2 sleep.

Delta Waves

Brain waves characteristic of Stage 3 and Stage 4 sleep.

REM Rebound

An effect shown by individuals deprived of REM sleep where they learn more slowly, forget faster, and experience increased REM sleep later.

Activation-Synthesis Model of Dreaming

A model stating that acetylcholine and the Pons stimulate responses leading to dreaming, the reticular activation system stimulates cortex memory areas, and the cortex synthesizes these into dreams.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder that involves sudden sleep attacks and sleep paralysis.

Deep Sleep Disorders

Disorders occurring in stage 3 or 4 sleep that are more common in children, including Sleep Terrors, Bed-Wetting, and Sleepwalking.

Hypnosis

An altered state of consciousness used in medical procedures, characterized by a hypnotic trance and hypnotic suggestibility.

Role Theory

A theory used to explain the effects of hypnosis.

Response Set Theory

A theory used to explain the effects of hypnosis.

Transcendental Meditation (TM)

A form of meditation where individuals concentrate on mantras to achieve a relaxation response.

Mindfulness Meditation (MM)

A form of meditation focusing on the present state versus ruminating on problems.

Biofeedback

A system that provides information about a bodily function in order to gain some control over it.

Electromyograph (EMG)

An instrument used in biofeedback training that monitors muscle tension.

Substance Abuse

Repeated use of a substance despite impaired functioning.

Substance Dependence

A condition characterized by loss of control over substance use, organizing life around getting and using it, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms.

Opiates

A group of narcotics derived from the opium poppy (or lab-produced opioids like morphine, heroin, codeine, and Demerol) used mainly for pain relief and providing a strong euphoric rush.

Barbiturates

Depressants with medical uses such as relaxation, pain management, and treating epilepsy, high blood pressure, and insomnia, which rapidly lead to dependence.

Amphetamines

Stimulants taken in high doses to produce euphoric feelings that can quickly lead to dependence, with Ritalin being a common treatment for hyperactive children.

Cocaine

A stimulant producing euphoric feelings that carries physical dangers such as sudden blood pressure rises, quickened heart rate, decreased oxygen to the heart, and cardiorespiratory collapse in overdose.

Nicotine

An addictive stimulant in tobacco smoke that depresses appetite, raises metabolic rate, reduces stress, and creates physiological dependence.

Marijuana

A hallucinogen with the active ingredient THC that produces relaxation and distorted perceptions, elevates heart rate, slows learning, and impairs perceptual-motor coordination and short-term memory.

LSD

A synthetic hallucinogen producing vivid, colorful hallucinations and potential flashbacks.

Flashbacks

Distorted perceptions mimicking an LSD trip that occur days, weeks, or longer after usage.