6A


Define sleep as a psychological construct and explain its classification as a naturally occurring altered state of consciousness

Sleep

  • psychological construct

    • can’t measure

    • inferred eg. biological indicators, eg. brain waves

  • naturally occurring altered state of consciousness

Consciousness

awareness of own internal mental processes and external world

→ personal feelings, thoughts, sensations and perceptions

→ observations of surroundings

  • constantly changing can’t always focus on one thing, if not changing, it is altered

  • unique, personal experiences

  • tangible; can’t measure

brain structures are all different

→ consciousness indirectly measured by physiological changes (eye drooping = tired)

States of consciousness

  • consciousness fluctuates (on and off)

Normal waking consciousness

aware of internal and external

Altered state of consciousness

anything different from normal waking consciousness

→ altered is not focusing on one state (external)

Natural

  • sleep, daydreaming

Induced

  • Alcohol, anaesthesia

Class activity

  1. playground, background, environment

  2. people

  3. animals

  4. people’s emotions

  5. animal’s actions (attacking)

  6. people’s actions (running, screaming)

  7. consequences (injuries)

  8. resolution

  9. aftermath

Rachel is likely in normal waking consciousness, this is because she’s aware of external and internal stimuli such as other students leaving the classes, and awareness of being hungry.

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Differentiate REM and NREM sleep in terms of physiological and psychological characteristics

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Sleep

Naturally occurring reversible altered state of consciousness

  • lack of response to external surroundings

  • no behaviour control

  • psychological construct

NREM

STAGE

understanding

description

NREM1

transition from awake to light sleep

transition, hypnic jerk

NREM2

brain wave release; ‘truly’ asleep

light stage of sleep, still asleep

NREM3

deep sleep

deep, drowsy if woken

  • time in NREM decreases over sleep duration

  • physical restoration (repair bones and muscles)

REM (rapid eye movement)

  • delta waves

  • high levels of brain functioning

  • less active physically; virtually paralysed; motionless

  • vivid dreaming (had a brief dream abt..)

  • 20-25% of sleep episodes in most ages

  • REM duration increments

don’t have enough: REM rebound

Sleep episode

  • collection of multiple sleep cycles

  • use sleep to see if individual is healthy

    • five cycles

    • incrementing REM periods

    • body starts in REM

    • number of times awake

    • time to fall asleep

potential question:

  • current period of sleep cycle

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Describe stages of NREM and typical sleep cycle

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significance of REM and NREM in terms of psychological and physiological restoration

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