1.5 SLeep: Stages and Theories

consciousness

the state of being aware of oneself and one’s surroundings

circadian rhythm

our internal biological clock

rem sleep

rapid eye movement. fast, energetic eye movement accompanied by energetic brain activity

nrem sleep

non-rapid eye movement sleep, calm brain waves, reduced heart rate, and lower body temperature

hypnagogic sensation

sensory experiences that occur without a sensory stimulus, like falling or other hallucinations as you drift off during stage 1 of sleep.

paradoxical sleep

having an active mind but a sleeping body

consolidation theory

we can register long-term memories while we sleep

activation-synthesis

our dreams are our interpretation of our neural activity while in REM sleep

jet lag

temporary sleep issue that happens when you travel across time zones

shift work

when one works outside of 7 am to 6 pm and then it alters the circadian rhythm.

rem deprivation

when one sleeps but does not get enough sleep in the REM stage.

depression as an effect of sleep deprivation

70-80% higher rates of depression and suicidal thoughts

physical effects as an effect of sleep deprivation

increase weight gain by suppressing leptin and increasing ghrelin. increase in stress hormones and more likely chance of illness.

driving as an effect of sleep deprivation

sleep always wins, can inhibit thinking and reasoning, leading to car accidents and other life-threatening circumstances.

REM rebound

a natural biological response where the body spends much more time in REM sleep to make up for lost sleep

insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

narcolespy

a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. the affected person may enter directly into REM sleep, at arbitrary times

sleep apnea

temporary cessations (stops) in breathing during sleep, caused by nasal passage blocking

somnambulism (sleep walking)

complex motor behavior like walking during stage 3 sleep

rem sleep behavior disorder

acting out the content of dreams while asleep, including vocalization or motor behaviors such as kicking or punching.