Psych 4.1 Consciousness and Sleep

Vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes covering consciousness, biological rhythms, sleep-wake cycles, and sleep disorders.

Consciousness

Our awareness of internal and external stimuli.

Sleep

A state marked by relatively low levels of physical activity and reduced sensory awareness that is distinct from periods of rest during wakefulness.

Wakefulness

Characterized by high levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior.

Biological Rhythms

Internal rhythms of biological activity, such as the menstrual cycle or body temperature fluctuations.

Circadian Rhythm

A biological rhythm that takes place over a period of about 24 hours, like our sleep-wake cycle.

Homeostasis

The tendency to maintain a balance, or optimal level, within a biological system.

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

The brain's clock mechanism, located in the hypothalamus, which synchronizes internal clocks with the outside world based on light information.

Melatonin

A hormone released by the pineal gland, stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light, involved in regulating sleep-wake cycles and other biological rhythms.

Pineal Gland

An endocrine structure located inside the brain that releases melatonin.

Chronotype

Individual differences in circadian patterns of activity, determining whether a person is a 'morning lark' or a 'night owl'.

Sleep Regulation

The brain's control of switching between sleep and wakefulness and coordinating this cycle with the external world.

Jet Lag

A collection of symptoms, including fatigue, sluggishness, irritability, and insomnia, that results from a mismatch between internal circadian cycles and a new environment due to traveling across multiple time zones.

Insomnia

A consistent difficulty in falling or staying asleep for at least three nights a week over a month's time.

Rotating Shift Work

A work schedule that frequently changes from early to late, disrupting an individual's normal circadian rhythm.

Sleep Debt

The accumulation of insufficient sleep on a chronic basis, leading to decreased levels of alertness and mental efficiency.

Sleep Deprivation

The state of not getting sufficient sleep, leading to negative psychological and physiological consequences such as decreased alertness, impaired cognitive function, and depression-like symptoms.