Psychology Unit 5: Consciousness, Sleep, Dreams & Disorders (RG Unit 5, Lesson 1)

What is consciousness?

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

What does consciousness allow us to do?

Experience complex sensory data and process unique experiences.

What are biological rhythms?

Natural repeating patterns of psychological and behavioral activities regulated by an internal clock.

Give 2 examples of biological rhythms.

Circadian Rhythm and Sleep Cycle.

What is Circadian Rhythm?

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

When during the day are we sharpest/most alert and cognitively aware?

During the day, when circadian arousal is at its peak.

How do we combat jet lag?

Take melatonin to help reset your body to the new timezone and use natural light to activate light-sensitive retinal proteins.

How has the light bulb affected our circadian rhythm?

It produces light that triggers our light-sensitive retinal proteins, delaying the production of melatonin.

What happens to our mind and body in Stage 1 of sleep?

Awake but in a relaxed state, slow breathing, slow alpha waves, and may experience hallucinations.

What happens in Stage 2 of sleep?

Body relaxes further, lasts about 20 minutes, and brain experiences rapid bursts of rhythmic brain wave activity (sleep spindles).

What occurs in Stage 3 of sleep?

Brain experiences large slow brain waves associated with deep sleep (delta waves) and lasts for about 30 minutes.

What happens in Stage 4 of sleep?

Brain experiences increasingly large slow brain waves associated with deep sleep (delta waves) and lasts for about 30 minutes.

What happens after Stage 4 of sleep?

The NREM sleep cycle restarts again.

Describe REM sleep.

Rapid Eye Movement Sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur.

How much sleep do adults need?

The average adult should get 9 hours of sleep to wake up unhindered.

What are the effects of sleep deprivation?

Function below peak, mental fog, daytime fatigue, trouble waking up, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

What is insomnia?

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.

What is narcolepsy?

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks, often entering REM sleep at inopportune times.

What is sleep apnea?

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

What are night terrors?

A sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and terror, occurring during Stage 4 sleep.

What is sleepwalking?

A sleep disorder where a person performs complex activities while remaining mostly asleep.

What are dreams?

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

What are lucid dreams?

A state of sleep where you become consciously aware that you are dreaming.

What are common themes in dreams?

Vivid universal experiences like being chased, falling, or flying.

What is the difference between manifest and latent content in dreams?

Manifest is the surface story, while latent content is the deeper meaning.

Why do we dream?

To fulfill unconscious desires, process daily experiences, stimulate brain pathways, and aid cognitive development.

What is REM rebound?

The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation, resulting in more vivid and intense dreams.