ap psych-unit 1.b consciousness

Psychoactive Drugs

chemicals that affect the central nervous system and alter activity in the brain

Agonists

drugs which mimic the activity of neurotransmitters

Antagonists

Chemical substances that block the activity of neurotransmitters

Reuptake Inhibitors

Drugs that interfere with the reuptake of neurotransmitters in the synapse so that a greater amount remains in the synapse

Stimulants

Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Caffeine

a mild stimulant found in coffee, tea, and several other plant-based substances

Cocaine

a powerful and addictive stimulant, derived from the coca plant, producing temporarily increased alertness and euphoria

Depressants

drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

alcohol

((depressant))
disrupts memory formation (REM)
lowers inhibition
expectancy effect

Hallucinogens

psychedelic drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

Marijuana

a drug, often smoked, whose effects include euphoria, impairment of judgment and concentration and occasionally hallucinations; rarely reported as addictive

Opioids

Any drug or agent with actions similar to morphine.

Heroin

narcotic drug derived from opium that is extremely addictive

Tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect

Addiction

compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences

Withdrawl

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug

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

a disruption of circadian rhythms due to crossing time zones

shift work

Any work schedule outside of the normal 9am-5pm work hours. Can lead to sleep cycle disruption and have impacts on physical, psychological, and behavioral life.

NREM 1

the transition into sleep, marked by slowed breathing and irregular brain waves; hypnagogic sensations/hallucinations, and myclonic jerks may occur

Hypnagogic sensations

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

NREM 2

Sleep stage characterized by its periodic sleep spindles, or bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain-wave activity. About half the night is spent in this phase.

NREM 3

sleep stage that lasts about 30 minutes and your brain emits large, slow delta waves, and you are hard to awaken.

REM

Rapid eye movement; describes sleep in which vivid dreams typically occur.

REM Rebound

the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation (created by repeated awakenings during REM sleep)

Activation-synthesis

the idea that dreams are the result of the cerebral cortex interpreting and organizing random flashes of brain activity, originating in the lower brain structures, especially the pons

Consolidation Theory

The theory that dreams help strengthen the neural connections that form our memories.

Memory Consolidation

the gradual, physical process of converting new long-term memories to stable, enduring memory codes

Restoration of resources

evolutionary theory of sleep holds that sleep is essential for restoration of resources that are expended during the demands of day-to-day life.

Insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

Narcolepsy

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

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)

sleep disorder in which the muscle paralysis associated with the REM sleep phase does not occur; sleepers have high levels of physical activity during REM sleep, especially during disturbing dreams

Sleep Apnea

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

Somnambulism (sleepwalking)

occurs when a person arises and walks around while asleep