Discovering Biological Psychology Chapter 11

NREM sleep stage 2 (brain activity and related phenomena)

50% of nights sleep. Further reduction of heart rate and muscle tension, sleep spindles, Kcomplex Theta waves with: ¨ Sleep spindles: short bursts of brain waves ¨ K-complex: a sharp high-amplitude negative wave followed by a smaller, slower positive wave ¨ brain suppresses arousal in response to stimuli that the brain evaluates not to signal danger

Rapid-eye-movement sleep (REM) (brain activity and related phenomena)

AKA "paradoxical sleep" because EEG similar to awake and alert state (beta waves) related phenomena: - PGO spikes correspond to eye movements - paralysis of major muscle groups in the limbs and torso - irregular autonomic activity - sexual arousal - vivid dreaming

wakefulness (brain activity and related phenomena)

Brain activity: alpha/beta related phenomena: - alternation of periods of alertness (beta) with periods of relaxation (alpha) - logical thought - continuous voluntary movement - highly responsive to external stimuli

circadian rhythm

a repeating cycle of about 24 hours

free-running circadian rhythm

a rhythm is not synchronized to environmental time cues

sleep spindle

a short burst of 12 to 14 cycle-per-second waves observed during NREM sleep

nightmare

a REM dream with frightening content

hypnopompic hallucination

a REM-type dream that intrudes into the waking state upon wakening.

hypnogogic hallucination

a REM-type dream that intrudes into waking state prior to the onset of sleep

delta wave

a brain waveform having 1 to 4 cycles per second that occurs during stages 3 and 4 of NREM sleep

beta wave

a brain waveform having 15 to 20 cycles per second, associated with high levels of alertness during wakefulness Awake and Alert: ¨ Beta waves: low amplitude & very high frequency brain waves

theta wave

a brain waveform having 4 to 7 cycles per second found primarily in lighter stages of NREM sleep

alpha wave

a brain waveform having 9 to 12 cycles per second, associated with having less alertness and more relaxation than beta activity during wakefulness. Awake and Relax: ¨ Brain shows alpha waves: brain low amplitude and high frequency

K-complex

a brief burst of brain activity occurring during Stage 2 slow-wave sleep

ultraradian cycle

a cycle that occurs several times in a single day

cataplexy

a feature of narcolepsy in which REM muscle paralysis intrudes into the waking state

sleep paralysis

a feature of narcolepsy in which REM muscle paralysis occurs proceeding or following actual sleep

cholinergic mesopontine nuclei

a group of cells located at the border of the pons and midbrain that use ACh as their major neurotransmitter and participate in the maintenance of wakefulness. "Meso" refers to mesencephalon, or midbrain, and "pontine" refers to the pons.

cortisol

a hormone released by the adrenal glands that promotes arousal

growth hormone (GH)

a hormone released during stages 3 and 4 of slow-wave sleep that promotes growth, increases bone and muscle mass, and immune system functions

myoclonia

a muscle jerk occurring in early stages of sleep

retinohypothalamic pathway

a pathway leading from the retina of the eye to the hypothalamus; provides light information necessary for the maintenance of circadian rhythm

rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep

a period of sleep characterized by desynchronous brain activity, muscle paralysis, eye movement, and storylike dream behavior AKA "paradoxical sleep" because EEG similar to awake and alert state (beta waves) - Characterized by rapid eye movements - Heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure increase - vivid dreaming occurs in REM - Atonia: Lack of muscle tension

non-REM sleep (NREM)

a period of sleep characterized by slow, synchronous brain activity, reduction in heart rate, and muscle relaxation.

melanopsin

a photopigment used by non-image-forming (NIF) retinal cells

narcolepsy

a sleep disorder characterized by the intrusion of REM sleep, and occasionally REM paralysis, into the waking state. - Dyssomnia Main symptoms: ¨ Cataplexy: the loss of muscle control ¨ Sleep paralysis: muscle paralysis that either continues when one wakes up ¨ Hypnogogic hallucinations: REM-type dreaming that intrudes into the waking state before sleep ¨ Hypnopompic hallucinations: REM dreaming after waking up

restless leg syndrome (RLS)

a sleep disorder in which a limb, usually a leg, moves at regular intervals during sleep

REM behavior disorder

a sleep disorder in which the normal REM paralysis is absent - Parasomnia Lack of atonia during REM ¨ Acting out of dreams ¨ Vigorous movement during REM

sleep apnea

a sleep disorder in which the person temporarily stops breathing, then awakens, gasping for air. Dyssomnia - Causes: obesity, weak lungs - Treatments include: Weight loss, surgery, devises that regulate air flow

dyssomnia

a sleep disorder that involves difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

a syndrome in which an otherwise healthy infant stops breathing and dies during sleep

seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

a type of depression that results from insufficient amounts of daylight during the winter months Symptoms also include: loss of energy, social withdrawal &oversleeping ¨ Common in places at higher latitudes where there is reduced daylight ¨ Increased levels of melatonin and low levels of serotonin may contribute to symptoms Treatments: Exposure to light and/or antidepressants

night terror

an NREM episode in which the individual is partially aroused, disoriented, frightened, and inconsolable

suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

an area of the hypothalamus located above the optic chiasm; responsible for maintaining circadian rhythms - Part of the hypothalamus, located above optic chiasm. - Ideal location for its proximity to visual information and to the pituitary gland SCN regulates the pineal gland which secretes melatonin, a hormone that increases sleepiness

PGO spike

an electrical waveform observed during REM sleep, originating in the pons and traveling to the thalamus and occipital cortex. Each PGO wave is associated with an eye movement.

zeitgeber

an external cue for setting biological rhythms

melatonin

an indoleamine secreted by the pineal gland that participates in the regulation of circadian rhythms

NREM sleep stage 3 (brain activity and related phenomena)

body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate are at very low levels Delta Waves: Difficult to wake a person up ¨ Delta waves (high amplitude, low frequency waves) ¨ Stages 3 & 4 are also known as slow wave sleep (SWS)

NREM sleep stage 4 (brain activity and related phenomena)

brain activity: larger proportion of delta related phenomena: - profound reduction in heart rate and muscle tension - very low responsiveness to external stimuli

jet lag

fatigue, irritability, and sleepiness from travel across time zones

desynchronous

having different periods and phases; in EEG, represents high levels of brain activity

synchronous

having identical periods and phases; in EEG, represents relatively low levels of brain activity

maintenance insomnia

insomnia in which the individual cannot stay asleep during the night

onset insomnia

insomnia in which the individual has a difficulty getting to sleep at bedtime

NREM sleep stage 1 (brain activity and related phenomena)

sleep begins here. Difficult to distinguish between wakefulness and this stage. Theta waves with: heart rate and muscle tension begin to decrease, muscle jerks and accompanied by brief visual images When a personal starts to sleep Myoclonia: muscle jerk in early stages of sleep ¨ 10-15 min

parasomnia

sleep disorder that involves the intrusion of unusual behaviors into sleep

somnambulism

sleepwalking

sleep debt

the homeostatic control of sleep, in which sleep promotion is related to the preceding duration and intensity of wakefulness.

insomnia

the inability to sleep a normal amount of time Can't fall or stay asleep Dyssomnia - The most common sleep disorder - Causes: stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, high-levels of activity before sleep

REM rebound

the increased amount of REM sleep following a period of REM deprivation

entertainment

the resetting of internal biological clocks to the 24-hour cycle of the earth's rotation

lucid dreaming

thoughtful dreaming; the dreamer is aware that he or she is dreaming and can manipulate the experience