Psych Sleep

Consciousness

The state of being aware of and able to perceive one’s thoughts

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 due to rapid travel across time zones

Shift Work

Employment schedules that require working outside of typical daylight hours

NREM Stage 1

The first stage of non-REM sleep characterized by drifting in and out of sleep

NREM Stage 2

The second stage of non-REM sleep characterized by light sleep lasting about 20 minutes

NREM Stage 3

The deepest stage of non-REM sleep (slow-wave sleep) where the body restores resources

Restoration of Resources

The process during sleep where the body and brain replenish energy

REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep

A stage of sleep with rapid eye movements

REM Rebound

The phenomenon of spending more time in REM sleep after REM deprivation as a compensatory response

Why Do We Dream?

Theories suggest dreaming helps process emotions

Activation-Synthesis (Dreams)

A theory proposing that dreams result from random neural activity during REM sleep

Consolidation Theory (Dreams)

A theory suggesting that dreams aid in memory consolidation and processing by organizing and integrating information learned during the day

Insomnia

A sleep disorder involving difficulty falling or staying asleep and achieving restorative rest

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness

Sleep Apnea

A sleep disorder involving pauses or shallow breathing during sleep

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

A disorder where individuals act out dreams during REM sleep due to loss of normal muscle paralysis

Somnambulism

Also known as sleepwalking

occurs during non-REM sleep when a person walks or performs other activities while still asleep

often without memory of the event