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Sleep NotesAP Psychology

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DaydreamingA common variation of consciousness in

which attention shifts to memories, expectations, desires, or fantasies and away from the immediate situation.

D.D. is normalWhen does it occur?Functions of D.D.= solve problemsWhite Bear experiment

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Biological rhythmsCircadian rhythms= (Latin: circa for about

and dies for days)Occurs approximately once during a 24-hour

period. The sleep-wake cycle is an example of a circadian rhythm

Ultradian rhythms= occur more than once a day. The most studied ultradian rhythm is the way we cycle through various stages of sleep each night.

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How is Sleep Research conducted?We all have a 90-minute ultradian rhythm

cycling throughout our night’s sleep.Sleep research based on information

collected from an EEG.Electrodes collecting brain wave

measurements

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Stages of SleepStages 1 to 5: From light to deep sleepStage 1: brain waves become small and

irregular with varying frequencies. You can be easily awakened during this stage and may not even realize that you had been sleeping.

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Stage 2Stage 2 Sleep begins about two minutes

after Stage 1 and is characterized by bursts of brain wave activity that are represented by spindle-shaped waves called sleep spindles and K-Complexes. You spend more than ½ your sleep in Stage 2.

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Stages 3 and 4Both stages are called delta sleep or

slow-wave sleep (SWS), these stages are characterized by the appearance of large, slow brain waves called delta waves. This is the period of deep sleep, when it is difficult to arouse you.

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Distinction b/w Stage 3 and 4Stage 3:Less Delta Waves Deep Sleep beginsHeart rate and

breathing slow down.

Stage 4:More Delta WavesDeepest point of in

the sleep cycle occurs.

If you were roused from this stage of deep sleep, you would be groggy and confused

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REM sleepAfter 30 to 45 minutes in stage 4, you

quickly return to stages 3, 2, 1 . Then you enter a special stage in which your eyes move rapidly under their closed eyelids

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleepIn REM sleep the EEG resembles that of an

awake, alert person, and your physiological arousal is similar to when you are awake.

REM is a sign of vivid dreaming!!

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Characteristics of REM sleepYour muscles are nearly paralyzed. Sudden

twitchy spasms appear, especially in your face and hands, but your brain activity suppresses other movements.

Sleep paralysis also known as…..Paradoxical sleep= internally, your body is

aroused; externally, you’re the picture of calm and hard to awaken.

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Non-REM sleepThe interim periods, w/o rapid eye

movementsSleepwalking and sleep talking occur

during the deepest stage of NREM sleep

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The Function of SleepPossible functions

To conserve energy

To restore the body (neurotransmitters, neuron sensitivity)

To build “neural nets” and flush out useless info. From the brain.

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Sleep DebtMost people require between 7-9 hours of

sleep to feel fully refreshed and to function at their best.

Some people are sleep-deprived and do not realize it.

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Sleep DebtBy the time we reach 60/70 we may require

only six hours of sleep per night.

Sleep deprivationslows reaction timesimpairs concentration and memorymore difficult to retain newly acquired info.most common cause of motor vehicle accidents

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Sleep DebtLab studies: volunteers were deprived of

REM sleep (impairs learning ability and memory)

After REM deprivation, people experienced a rebound effect-they make up for the loss by spending more of their next sleep period in REM sleep.

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The endPsychology