Psychology Unit 1 - Sleep, Dreams, Consciousness, Hypnosis, Psychoactive Drugs

Circadian Rhythm

the body’s natural 24 hour cycle, roughly matched to the day/night cycle of light and dark

EEG

electroencephalograph, measures brain waves which show different patterns of brain activity

Beta Waves

alert and full wakefulness

Alpha Waves

relaxed, awake but drowsy

Theta Waves

slower waves than alpha

Delta Waves

deep sleep, slowest waves

NREM

non-rapid eye movement, period of sleep identified through 4 stages, characterized by no eye movement

Sleep spindles

sudden bursts of brain activity

Paradoxical sleep

internally body is aroused while externally appears calm (aka REM)

How are NREM and REM sleep different?

NREM - physically restorative & REM - emotionally restorative

Freud’s Theory of Dreams (Which theory?)

dreams are a roadway into our unconsciousness (Psychoanalytic Theory)

Activation Synthesis Theory (which theory?)

Our cerebral cortex is trying to interpret random electrical activity we have while sleeping (biological theory)

Information-Processing Theory (which theory?)

brains way of processing information collected throughout the day, we dream more when we are stressed (cognitive theory)

How many sleep cycles will a person experience throughout the night?

5 sleep cycles

What happens when people are deprived of REM sleep?

REM rebound, they catch up on their REM sleep by having much more of it when they sleep later on.

Insomnia

inability to sleep

Sleep apnea

 a breathing interruption that occurs during sleep.

Narcolepsy

 a rare sleep problem in which people suddenly fall asleep no matter what time it is or where they are.

REM

Rapid Eye Movement) sleep where the brain is more active and we are more inclined to vivid dreams.

Consciousness

awareness of ourselves and our environment

Unconscious parallel processing

the ability of the brain to process information simultaneously on multiple tracks without conscious awareness.

Serial conscious processing

the method of processing information one step at a time, typically used for tasks that require focused attention.

selective attention

the process of focusing on a particular object or task in the midst of distractions.

selective inattention

the failure to notice a stimulus because attention is directed elsewhere, often leading to missed information.

Hypnosis

cooperative interaction in which the participant responds to the suggestions of the hypnotist

Divided Consciousness Theory

people in a hypnotic state experience a split consciousness in which there are two different streams of mental activity

Social Influence Theory

participant is just complying with social demand or authoritative figure (much like placebo effect)

Psychoactive drugs

chemicals introduced into the body which alter perceptions, mood, and other elements of conscious experience

Psychological Dependence

develops when the person has an intense desire to achieve the drugged state in spite of adverse effects

Tolerance

decreasing response to a drug

Physiological Dependence/addiction

develops when changes in brain chemistry from taking the drug necessitate taking the drug again to prevent withdrawal symptoms

Withdrawal

when a person stops taking the drug the body reacts with intense craving for the drug

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the brain's reward system, influencing mood, motivation, and pleasure.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, sleep, and appetite.

Agonists

substances that enhance the effects of neurotransmitters by binding to their receptors and mimicking their action.

Antagonists

substances that block or inhibit the effects of neurotransmitters by binding to their receptors without activating them.

Stimulants

enhance the activity of the nervous system (ex. caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy)

Depressants

slow down or impair the activity of the nervous system, causes the muscles to relax (ex. alcohol & heroin)

Hallucinogens

distort the brain’s processing of sensory information (ex. LSD & weed)

If a person is aware of what is going on around her and what is going on within her, then it is safe to say they are in an

state of waking consciousness

The human sleep cycle repeats itself every

90 minutes

What is the role of melatonin in sleep cycles?

it triggers the onset of sleep

REM atonia

a temporary state of paralysis that occurs during REM sleep, preventing the body from acting out dreams.

REM dreams are…

fleeting and vague

Which of the following best describes the function of REM sleep?

a. it allows the body to repair tissues and grow muscles

b. it aids in memory consolidation, learning, and emotional processing

c. it supports physical recovery and immune system function

d. it helps process sensory stimuli and motor skills development

B

People who heard unusual phrases prior to sleep were awakened each time they began REM sleep. The fact that they remembered less the next morning provides support for the _____ theory of dreaming

Information processing

How does NREM stage 3 sleep benefit the body?

it aids in physical restoration, including immune function and muscle recovery