Brain and Sleep: 1.4-1.5

biological psychology

scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

brain plasticity

brains ability to change

EEG

recording of waves of brain activity

fMRI

reveals blood flow and brain activity

lesion

damaged or destroyed brain tissue

split brain

a condition resulting from severing the corpus callosum, affecting communication between the brain's hemispheres.

hindbrain

the lower part of the brain (medulla, pons, and cerebellum), responsible for vital functions like heartbeat and respiration.

midbrain

some motor movement and transmits auditory and visual info

forebrain

cerebral cortex, thalumus, hypothalumus, maages cognitive activity, sensitive and associative functions, and voluntary motor activities

brainstem

where spinal cord meets skull

medulla

base of brainstem, involuntary life functions

recticular formation

nerve network through brainstem into thalumus, filters info and plays role in controlling arousal. where “crossing over“ happens

cerebellum

“little brain” processing sensory input and coordinating movement and balance, enables nonverbal learning and memory

limbic system

mostly in forebrain, hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, pituitary gland, and hypothalamus

thalamus

forebrains sensory control center, directs messages to sensory receiving areas and transmits replies to cerebellum and medulla

hypothalamus

eating, drinking, temp. helps govern endocrine system

pituitary gland

“master gland” of the endocrine system, communicates w hypothalamus, sends messages to other glands

hippocampus

“seahorse” shaped neural center in the limbic system, helps process conscious memories of facts or events for storgage

amygdala

to neural clusters in the limbic system, linked emotions like fear and aggression

corpus callosum

large band of neural fibers connecting brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

cerebral cortex

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the forebrain’s cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center

prefrontal cortex

A part of the frontal lobe associated with higher-order, complex cognitive behaviors such as decision making, reasoning, and personality expression

association areas

The idea that certain areas of the cerebral cortex (that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions) are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

neurogenesis

The formation of new neurons; happens naturally during sleeping, exercising, and non-stressful stimulation

aphasia

Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area (impairing speaking) or Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding)

brocas area

Controls language expression; an area in the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech

Wernicke’s Area

Controls language reception; a brain area in the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression

Contralateral hemispheric organization

The idea that the each hemisphere of the brain controls motor and sensory activity on the opposite side of the body

Consciousness

Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment

Cognitive neuroscience

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with mental tasks like thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

sleep

A periodic, natural loss of consciousness – as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation

Circadian rhythm

Our biological clock; regular body cycles (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle

jet lag

A disruption in a person's circadian rhythm, the body's internal clock, which occurs when traveling across multiple time zones

EEG  patterns

Patterns of brain activity at different states of consciousness, including different stages of sleep

REM

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

Alpha waves

The relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

NREM

Non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep

hallucionations

False sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus

hypnagogic sensations

Bizarre experiences, such as jerking or a feeling of falling or floating weightlessly, while transitioning to sleep

delta waves

The large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

SCN

A pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, it adjusts melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness. (SLEEP COMES NOW)

Insomnia

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

narcolepsy

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

sleep apnea

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

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

somnambulism

Sleepwalking; a sleep disorder where a person performs complex motor activities while in a state of partial sleep and partial wakefulness

REM rebound

The tendency for REM sleep in increase following REM sleep deprivation

dream

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind

activation synthesis theory

The idea that dreams are our brain’s attempt to make sense of spontaneous, random neural activity during REM sleep

consolidation theory

The idea that dreams are the result of our brain processing and organizing memories and new learnings from the day’s event