AP psychology 1.5 (sleep)

Consciousness

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Circadian Rhythm

The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle.

Jet Lag

circadian rhythm disruption

Sleep

Is a natural state of reduced responsiveness and interactions with the environment.

Altered States

These can be induced by substances (such as alcohol or drugs), meditation, hypnosis, or other practices, leading to changes in perception, cognition, and self-awareness.

Sleep Stages

 Sleep is a complex process that unfolds in distinct stages, each with unique characteristics and implications for behavior and mental processes

Sleep Stages: EEG Patterns

• An EEG can be used to monitor the stages of sleep, which are characterized by different patterns of brain activity

Stage 1 Non-REM

 1-10 minutes marks the initial transition from wakefulness to sleep, characterized by theta waves and occasional muscle contractions.

Hallucinations

may occur.

Many people who claim to be abducted by aliens say it happened right after they fell asleep.

Hypnagogic sensations:

bizarre experiences, such as jerking or feeling of falling, while transitioning to sleep.

NREM 2 (Stage 2)

20 minutes  theta waves persist alongside sleep spindles and K-complexes, preparing the body for deeper sleep. This stage, constituting about half of total sleep time, supports cognitive functions and memory consolidation while maintaining a state where individuals are relatively easy to awaken.

Sleep spindles

bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain-wave activity.

NREM 3 (Stage 3) and 4 non- REM

30 minutes  collectively known as slow-wave sleep (SWS), are characterized by delta waves, signifying deep sleep.

REM Sleep

Approximately 10 minutes rapid eye movement) Brain waves become rapid, almost like you are awake.Heart rate rises, breathing becomes rapid and irregular, eyes dart around.

REM Rebound

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

Sleep Deprivation

Chronic sleep deprivation leads to sleep debt that takes a long time to recover from. Sleep loss is a predictor of depression

Sleep Theories

1. Sleep protects

2. Sleep helps us recuperate

3. Sleep helps restore and rebuild our fading memories of the day’s experiences.

4. Sleep feeds creative thinking.

5. Sleep supports growth. 

Insomnia

 is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early and not being able to go back to sleep.

Narcolepsy

Sudden attacks of overwhelming sleepiness, usually lasting less than 5 minutes.

Sleep Apnea

A condition where people periodically stop breathing during sleep.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

A condition where the normal paralysis that occurs during REM sleep is absent, allowing individuals to act out their dreams physically, often in a violent or dramatic manner.

Somnambulism (Sleepwalking)

A disorder that occurs during deep non-REM sleep, involving walking or performing other complex behaviors while still asleep

Night Terrors

A sleep disorder in which a person partially awakens from sleep in a state of terror. 

Activation Synthesis Theory

suggests that dreams are the result of the brain trying to make sense of random neural activity during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. 

Consolidation Theory

sleep, particularly deep sleep and REM sleep, plays a crucial role in consolidating and stabilizing memories formed during the day,