Learn: AP Psych brain part 3

Consciousness

The state of being aware of and able to perceive your thoughts, feelings, sensations, and surroundings.

Circadian Rhythm

The natural internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours.

Jet Lag

A temporary disruption of the body's circadian rhythm caused by traveling across time zones.

Shift Work

Employment schedules that require working outside of typical daytime hours, which can disrupt normal sleep patterns.

NREM Stage 1

The first stage of NREM sleep; you drift in and out of sleep, brain waves slow, muscles relax, and hypnic jerks may occur.

NREM Stage 2

A light stage of sleep lasting about 20 minutes, characterized by sleep spindles and K-complexes.

NREM Stage 3

The deepest stage of NREM sleep, characterized mainly by delta waves.

Restoration of Resources

The process during sleep in which the body and brain replenish energy, repair tissues, and remove waste products.

REM Sleep

A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and muscle paralysis; it is associated with memory consolidation and emotional processing.

REM Rebound

Increased time spent in REM sleep after a period of REM deprivation.

Activation-Synthesis Theory

The theory that dreams result from random neural activity in the brainstem during REM sleep, which the cerebral cortex interprets into a narrative.

Consolidation Theory

The theory that dreams play a role in memory consolidation and processing as the brain organizes information during sleep.

Insomnia

A sleep disorder involving difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting restorative sleep, often causing daytime impairment.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder involving excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden muscle weakness (cataplexy), sleep paralysis, and hallucinations around sleep.

Sleep Apnea

A sleep disorder involving pauses or shallow breathing during sleep, disrupting sleep and potentially causing daytime fatigue.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

A disorder in which people physically act out their dreams during REM sleep because normal muscle paralysis is lost.

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking; walking or performing activities while still asleep, typically during NREM sleep.

Psychoactive Drugs

Substances that alter brain function and can change perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior.

Agonists

Substances that bind to neurotransmitter receptors and activate/enhance their effects.

Antagonists

Substances that bind to neurotransmitter receptors and block their effects.

Reuptake Inhibitors

Medications that block the reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the sending neuron, increasing their concentration in the synaptic cleft.

Stimulants

Drugs that increase neural activity and arousal, producing greater alertness, attention, and energy.

Caffeine

A natural stimulant that increases alertness and reduces fatigue by blocking the neurotransmitter adenosine.

Cocaine

A powerful stimulant that increases neural activity by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.

Depressants

Drugs that slow neural activity and bodily functions, producing relaxation and sedation and potentially lowering inhibitions.

Alcohol

A depressant that slows central nervous system activity and can impair judgment, coordination, and cognitive function.

Hallucinogens

Drugs that alter perception, mood, and cognitive processes and can cause hallucinations or major changes in consciousness.

Marijuana

A psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant containing THC, which can alter mood, perception, cognition, memory, and the perception of time.

Opioids

Psychoactive drugs that act on opioid receptors and produce effects such as pain relief, euphoria, and sedation.

Heroin

A highly addictive opioid derived from morphine that produces euphoria, pain relief, and sedation by activating opioid receptors.

Tolerance

A condition in which increasing amounts of a psychoactive substance are needed to achieve the same effects because the brain adapts to it.

Withdrawal

Symptoms that occur when someone stops using a psychoactive substance after prolonged use; symptoms can include physical discomfort, psychological distress, and cravings.

Addiction

A chronic brain disorder involving compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences and loss of control over consumption.