AP Psychology Sleep and Dreams

consciousness

our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

circadian rhythm

the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle.

jet lag

a disruption of circadian rhythms due to crossing time zones

sleep

periodic, natural loss of consciousness—as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation

NREM sleep

non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep.

REM (rapid eye movement) sleep

a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active.

alpha waves

the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state.

delta waves

the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep.

NREM-1 sleep stage

The transition between being awake to being asleep. During this brief, light sleep you may experience images resembling hallucinations- sensory experiences that occur without sensory stimulus. You may have a sensation of falling or floating weightlessly (Hypnagogic Sensations) which can be incorporated into your memories.

hypnogogic sensations

sensations of falling or floating that are sometimes later incorporated into memories; happens during NREM 1 sleep

NREM 2 sleep stage

fully asleep; brain waves become slower; body temperature drops and heart rate slows; brain begins to produce sleep spindles or K complexes

sleep spindles

short bursts of brain waves detected in NREM stage 2 sleep

NREM 3 sleep stage

deep sleep; delta brain waves dominate; sleepwalking and night terrors may occur

REM sleep stage

Stage usually begins about 90 minutes after sleep has begun.

paradoxical sleep

The type of sleep encountered during REM when internally, the brain is active; while externally, the body appears paralyzed

REM rebound

the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation (created by repeated awakenings during REM sleep).

activation-synthesis hypothesis

Brain gets a lot of neural impulses in brainstem, which is sometimes interpreted by the frontal cortex. Our brain tries to find meaning from random brain activity--> explanation that dreams may not actually have meaning.

latent content

according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream (as distinct from its manifest content).

manifest content

according to Freud, the story of the dream.

dream

a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind. These are notable for their hallucinatory imagery, discontinuities, and incongruities, and for the person 's delusional acceptance of the content and later difficulties remembering it.

Memory Consolidation Theory

theory that dreams are used to sort through the day's experiences and help us remember the day's events

insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.

narcolepsy

a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

sleep apnea

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

night terrors

a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, these occur during NREM sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

a neurological disorder in which the person does not become paralyzed during REM sleep and thus acts out dreams

somnambulism

the condition of walking or performing some other activity without awakening; also known as sleepwalking