AP Psych Unit 1/Part 2: Sleep and Dreams Vocabulary Terms

Consciousness

Definition:

-Awareness of external events and internal sensations which occur under conditions of arousal

Example:

-Knowing you're studying while noticing sounds around you.

Circadian Rhythm (Sleep/Wake Cycle)

Definition:

-A 24-hour cycle that regulates sleep and wakefulness.

Example:

-Feeling sleepy at night and awake in the morning.

Types of Consciousness (Sleep/Wake)

Definition:

-Different levels of awareness during being awake and asleep.

Example:

-You're alert while awake but less aware while sleeping.

Sleep

Definition:

-A type of consciousness where awareness of your surroundings is reduced.

Example:

-While sleeping, you may not notice someone quietly walking into your room.

Awake

Definition:

-A type of consciousness where you are aware of yourself and your surroundings.

Example:

-While in class, you notice your teacher talking and take notes.

Disruptions to Circadian Rhythm (Jet Lag)

Definition:

-A temporary mismatch between your internal body clock and the local time caused by traveling across time zones.

Example:

-After flying to California, you feel tired at 3 PM because your body is still on Florida time.

Sleep Stages (with EEG Patterns)

Definition:

-Different levels of sleep shown by changes in EEG brain-wave patterns.

Example:

-NREM-1 has theta waves, while NREM-3 has delta waves.

NREM Stages 1-3

Definition:

-Stages of sleep that progress from light sleep to deep sleep.

Example:

-NREM-1 is light sleep, while NREM-3 is deep sleep with slow delta waves.

Hypnogogic Sensations

Definition:

-Vivid sensory experiences that happen as you fall asleep.

Example:

-You feel like you're falling or hear your name being called just as you're drifting off.

REM Sleep (Paradoxical Sleep)

Definition:

-A stage of sleep with rapid eye movement and vivid dreaming.

Example:

-Your eyes move quickly while you dream, even though your body is mostly still.

Dreaming

Definition:

-A type of consciousness involving thoughts, images, and experiences during sleep.

Example:

-You dream that you're taking a test at school while asleep.

REM Rebound

Definition:

-When you experience more REM sleep after being deprived of it.

Example:

-After several nights of little sleep, you spend more time dreaming the next night.

Activation Synthesis Dream Theory

Definition:

-The idea that dreams result from the brain making sense of random neural activity during sleep.

Example:

-Random brain activity leads you to dream that you're running from something.

Consolidation Dream Theory

Definition:

-The idea that dreams help the brain process and store memories.

Example:

-After studying for a test, you dream about the material you learned.

Consolidation

Definition:

-The process of strengthening and storing new memories.

Example:

-After studying, your brain strengthens what you learned while you sleep.

Restoration

Definition:

-The process of the body recovering and repairing itself during sleep.

Example:

-After a long day, your body repairs tissues and restores energy while you sleep.

Sleep Disruption Effects

Definition:

-The negative effects caused by not getting enough quality sleep.

Example:

-After several nights of poor sleep, a student has trouble focusing and remembering information in class.

Sleep Disorders

Definition:

-Conditions that interfere with normal sleep patterns or quality.

Example:

-A person with insomnia has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

Insomnia

Definition:

-A sleep disorder where a person has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, often affecting NREM sleep.

Example:

-Someone lies awake for hours before falling asleep and gets too little NREM sleep.

Narcolepsy

Definition:

-A sleep disorder where a person suddenly falls asleep and can enter REM sleep quickly.

Example:

-Someone suddenly falls asleep during class and enters REM sleep soon after.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Definition:

-A sleep disorder where a person physically acts out their dreams during REM sleep.

Example:

-Someone may move or speak while dreaming instead of staying still.

Sleep Apnea

Definition:

-A sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during NREM sleep.

Example:

-Someone briefly stops breathing while asleep and wakes up to breathe again.

Somnambulism

Definition:

-A sleep disorder involving walking or performing activities while asleep, usually during NREM sleep.

Example:

-Someone walks around their house while still asleep and has no memory of it the next morning.