unit4 psyc

What is consciousness?

Awareness of internal and external stimuli, such as hunger, pain, or light.

What is wakefulness?

High levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior.

What is a biological rhythm?

An internal cycle of biological activity, such as body temperature, menstrual cycles, or alertness.

What is a circadian rhythm?

A biological rhythm that occurs over approximately 24 hours.

What controls circadian rhythms?

The suprachiasmatic nucleus, or SCN, located in the hypothalamus.

What is the role of the hypothalamus?

Maintains homeostasis, or balance within a biological system.

What does the SCN do?

Acts as the brain’s clock and uses light information from the retina to synchronize with the outside world.

What is melatonin?

A hormone released by the pineal gland. Darkness stimulates its release, while daylight inhibits it.

What is a chronotype?

An individual’s circadian pattern of activity.

What is jet lag?

Symptoms caused by a mismatch between internal circadian cycles and the environment.

What is rotating shift work?

A schedule that changes from early to late on a daily or weekly basis.

What is sleep debt?

The result of insufficient sleep on a chronic basis.

What is sleep rebound?

A sleep-deprived person falling asleep more quickly during later opportunities to sleep.

How much sleep is recommended for ages 18–25?

7–9 hours per night.

What is sleep?

A state marked by relatively low physical activity and reduced awareness.

Which brain areas help control sleep-wake cycles?

The thalamus and hypothalamus help control slow-wave sleep, while the pons is involved in REM sleep.

Why is sleep important for cognition?

Sleep supports memory formation and cognitive functioning. Sleep deprivation causes memory deficits.

What are alpha waves?

Relatively low-frequency, high-amplitude, synchronized brainwaves.

What are theta waves?

Low-frequency, low-amplitude brainwaves.

What are delta waves?

Low-frequency, high-amplitude, desynchronized brainwaves.

What happens during Stage 1 sleep?

It is the transition between wakefulness and sleep. Heart rate and breathing slow, and muscle tension and body temperature decrease.

What happens during Stage 2 sleep?

The body becomes deeply relaxed. Theta waves, sleep spindles, and K-complexes appear.

What are sleep spindles?

Rapid bursts of high-frequency brainwaves.

What are K-complexes?

Very high-amplitude patterns of brain activity.

What are Stages 3 and 4?

Slow-wave sleep, characterized by delta waves and further slowing of heart rate and breathing.

What is REM sleep?

Sleep marked by rapid eye movements, voluntary muscle paralysis, dreams, and brainwaves similar to wakefulness.

What is a hypnogram?

A diagram showing sleep stages across a period of sleep.

What did Freud believe about dreams?

Dreams provide access to the unconscious.

What is manifest content?

The actual content of a dream.

What is latent content?

The hidden meaning of a dream.

What did Carl Jung believe about dreams?

Dreams provide access to the collective unconscious and may contain universal archetypes.

What is a lucid dream?

A dream in which the person becomes aware that they are dreaming while some wakefulness is maintained.

What is insomnia?

Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at least three nights per week for at least one month.

What are parasomnias?

Unwanted motor behaviors or experiences during the sleep cycle.

When does sleepwalking usually occur?

During slow-wave sleep.

What is REM sleep behavior disorder?

A disorder in which REM muscle paralysis does not occur, leading to physical activity during REM sleep.

What is restless leg syndrome?

Uncomfortable leg sensations when trying to fall asleep that improve with movement.

What are night terrors?

Episodes of panic during NREM sleep that may involve screaming or attempts to escape.

What is sleep apnea?

Repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, often lasting 10–20 seconds or longer.

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea caused by a blocked airway.

What is central sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea caused by the central nervous system failing to initiate breaths.

What is SIDS?

Sudden infant death syndrome, in which an infant stops breathing during sleep and dies.

What is narcolepsy?

An irresistible urge to fall asleep during waking hours.

What is cataplexy?

Loss of muscle tone while awake, sometimes involving complete paralysis of voluntary muscles.

What are hypnagogic hallucinations?

Vivid, dream-like hallucinations that can occur with narcolepsy.

What is substance use disorder?

A compulsive pattern of drug use despite negative consequences.

What is physiological dependence?

Changes in normal bodily functions and withdrawal after stopping drug use.

What is psychological dependence?

An emotional need for a drug.

What is tolerance?

Needing more of a drug to achieve effects previously produced by lower doses.

What is withdrawal?

Negative symptoms experienced when drug use stops.

What are depressants?

Drugs that suppress central nervous system activity, often through GABA activity.

What are stimulants?

Drugs that increase overall neural activity, often by increasing dopamine activity.

How does cocaine affect dopamine?

It blocks dopamine reuptake, increasing dopamine in the synapse.

How does caffeine work?

It antagonizes adenosine activity and increases alertness and arousal.

How does nicotine work?

It interacts with acetylcholine receptors and affects arousal and reward mechanisms.

What do opioids do?

They reduce pain through effects on the endogenous opioid system and can be highly addictive.

What do hallucinogens do?

They change sensory and perceptual experiences and may cause vivid hallucinations.

What is hypnosis?

Extreme focus on the self involving suggested changes in behavior and experience.

Are people under hypnosis in control of their behavior?

According to the presentation, yes. People remain in control of their behavior.

What is meditation?

Focusing on one target, such as breathing or a repeated sound, to increase present-moment awareness.