Sleep and Sensation Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key concepts about sleep, sensory processes, and associated disorders, helping students study effectively.

NREM Sleep

Non-rapid eye movement sleep, encompassing stages 1-3, with decreasing length as the night progresses.

REM Sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, characterized by vivid dreaming and increased physiological activity. Lengthens as the night progresses.

Sleep Cycles

Patterns of sleep that occur every 90-120 minutes, involving multiple stages.

Sleep Disorders

Conditions affecting sleep quality or duration, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy.

Melatonin

A hormone released by the pineal gland that helps regulate sleep-wake cycles.

Dream Theory

Various theories explaining the purpose of dreams, including Freud's Interpretation of Dreams and the Activation-Synthesis Model.

Cones

Photoreceptor cells in the retina responsible for color vision, concentrated in the fovea.

Rods

Photoreceptor cells in the retina that are sensitive to light and responsible for peripheral and night vision.

Trichromatic Theory

The theory that color perception is based on the activation of three types of cone receptors for blue, green, and red.

Opponent Processing Theory

The theory that color perception is controlled by opposing neural processes for red-green, yellow-blue, and black-white.

Olfaction

The sense of smell, which bypasses the thalamus and is processed in the olfactory bulb.

Gustation

The sense of taste, achieved through taste buds on the tongue responding to tastant molecules.

Gate Control Theory of Pain

A theory suggesting that pain perception is modulated by the spinal cord's ability to prioritize certain signals.

Kinesthetic Awareness

The ability to sense the position and movement of the body in space.

Vestibular System

The sensory system responsible for maintaining balance and spatial orientation.

Frequency Theory of Pitch

The theory that the rate of neural signals sent to the brain specifies the pitch of a sound.

Place Theory of Pitch

The theory that different pitches are perceived based on the location of stimulation along the cochlea.