Used to characterize brain activity during different states of wakefulness/sleep
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What does EEG record?
Frequency (\# changes in average potential/time) & Voltage (average amplitude)
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What is Beta Activity?
18-24 Hz, very high frequency, very desynchronized, awake and active
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What is Alpha Activity?
8-12 Hz, somewhat lower frequency, somewhat desynchronized, awake and relaxed
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What is Theta Activity?
4-7 Hz, lower freq, still quite irregular, significantly more synchronized, Sleep 1
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What are Spindles and K Complexes?
Intermittent bursts of high freq and/or voltage, as brain settles into deeper sleep. K Complex \= Brief period of Delta activity. Spindles \= Help gate external stimuli from reaching cortex
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What is Delta Activity?
< 4 Hz observed in less than 50% of this stage, very low freq, higher voltage, very synchronized, Sleep 3 and 4
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What is Slow Wave Sleep (SWS)?
Stages 3 and 4, Delta Activity in more than 50% of this stage, hardest to wake
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What happens to frequency and voltage as we move into deeper sleep?
Frequency decreases and voltage increases as brain activity becomes synchronized
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What happens to heart rate and breathing rate as we move into deeper sleep?
They decrease
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What happens to brain responsiveness to external stimuli as we move into deeper sleep?
It decreases
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What is REM sleep?
Rapid Eye Movement sleep, characterized by desynchronized EEG, atonia, and dreaming.
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What is atonia?
Loss of muscle tone throughout most of the body during REM sleep.
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What inhibits motor neurons during REM sleep?
The medulla, which is signaled by the pons.
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What happens to external stimuli during REM sleep?
They are detected and may be incorporated into dreams.