Psych Vocab Chapter 5

stimulants

drugs that tend to increase central nervous system activation and behavioral activity.

alcohol

encompasses a variety of beverages containing ethyl alcohol

circadian rhythms

24-hour biological cycles found in humans and many other species.

night terrors

abrupt awakenings from NREM sleep accompanied by intense and automatic arousal and feelings of panic.

nightmares

anxiety-arousing dreams that lead to awakening, usually from REM sleep

psychoactive drugs

chemical substances that modify mental, emotional, or behavioral functioning.

MDMA

compound drug related to both amphetamines and hallucinogens, especially mescaline.

Non-REM sleep

consists of sleep stages 1 through 4, which are marked by an absence of rapid eye movements, relatively little dreaming, and varied EEG activity.

slow-wave sleep

consists of sleep stages 3 and 4, during which high-amplitude, low-frequency delta waves become prominent in EEG recordings.

ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)

consists of the afferent fibers running through the reticulr formation that influence physiological arousal.

manifest content

consists of the plot of a dream at a surface level.

electroencephalograph (EEG)

device that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time by the means of recording electrodes attached to the surface of the scalp

nacrolepsy

disease marked by sudden and irresistible onsets of sleep during normal waking periods.

hallucinogens

diverse group of drugs that have powerful effects on mental and emotional functioning, marked most prominently by distortions in sensory and perceptual experience.

narcotics

drugs derived from opium that are capable of relieving pain (AKA opiates)

physical dependence

exists when a person must continue to take a drug to avoid withdrawal illness.

psychological dependence

exists when a person must continue to take a drug to satisfy intense mental and emotional craving for the drug.

cannabis

hemp plant from which marijuana, hashish, and THC are derived.

sleep apnea

involves frequent, reflexive gasping for air that awakens a person and disrupts sleep.

somnabulism

occurs when a person arises and wanders about while remaining asleep (AKA sleepwalking)

lucid dreams

people can think clearly about the circumstances of waking life and the fact they are dreaming, yet remain asleep in midst a vivid dream

biological rhythms

periodic fluctuations in physiological functioning

electrooculograph

records eye movements

electromyograph (EMG)

records muscular activity and tension

meditation

refers to a family of practices that train attention to heighten awareness and bring mental processes under greater voluntary control.

insomnia

refers to chronic problems in getting adequate sleep.

tolerance

refers to progressive decrease in a person's responsiveness to a drug.

latent content

refers to the hidden or disguised meaning of the events in the plot.

REM sleep

relatively deep stage of sleep marked by rapid eye movements, high-frequency, low-amplitude brain waves, and vivid dreaming

sedatives

sleep-inducing drugs that tend to decrease central nervous system (CNS) activation and behavioral activity.

dissociation

splitting off of mental processes into two separate, simultaneous streams of awareness.

hypnosis

systematic procedure that typically produces a heightened state of suggestibility