AP Psychology 1.5 Consciousness and Sleep

Consciousness

Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Dual processing

The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.

Blindsight

a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it

Parallel processing

The processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously.

Sequential processing

Processing one aspect of a stimulus or problem at a time; generally used to process new information or to solve difficult problems.

Sleep

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

Circadian rhythm

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

NREM Sleep

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

Alpha waves

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

Hallucinations

False sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of external visual stimuli.

Hypnagogic sensations

Bizarre experiences, such as jerking or a feeling of falling or floating weightlessly, while transitioning to sleep. (Also called hypnic sensations.)

Delta waves

The large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep.

REM Sleep

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.

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN):

A pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness

Insomnia

Most common sleep disorder. Affects 1 in 5 adults. Recurring problems in falling asleep and staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

Uncontrollable sleep attacks. May lapse directly into REM sleep. 1 in 2000 adults. Risk of falling asleep in dangerous situations, such as while driving.

Sleep apnea

Temporary cessation of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings. Affects 1 in 20 adults.

Sleepwalking

Repeated episodes of complex motor behavior, such as walking while asleep in stage 3. 1-15 in 100.

REM sleep behavior disorder

Normal REM paralysis does not occur; instead twitching, kicking, or punching as if in dream. 1 in 100 adults, over 50 year old rate is 1 in 50 adults.

REM rebound

The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation.