Neuroscience, Theories & Stages
Primary cells of the nervous system
Neurons
The term used to denote that it is endogenous and has a cycle of approximately 24 hours
Circadian rhythms
Sleep that occurs in just one hemisphere of the brain at a time
Unihemispheric sleep
The feeling that a drug is needed to continue a feeling of emotional or psychological well-being
Psychological dependence
Snoring is not the same as this but it is a symptom
Apnea
This sleep stage, also known as paradoxical sleep, is characterized by a rise in heart rate, rapid and irregular breathing, darting eyelids, and vivid dreams
REM Sleep
A mental series of exercises meant to refocus attention and achieve a trancelike state of consciousness
Meditation
With this sleep disorder your hands tremble, you are unable to concentrate and you have a feeling of general discomfort
Sleep deprivation
A class of opium-related drugs that suppress the sensation of pain by binding to and stimulating the nervous system's natural receptor sites for endorphins
Narcotics
These common quick fixes actually aggravate insomnia by reducing REM sleep
sleeping pills and alcohol
The pineal gland releases this hormone when you sleep. You can also buy it at the store.
Melatonin
When our social clock doesn't match our biological clock
Social jetlag
This sleep disorder occurs during stage 4 of sleep and is more common in children
Night Terrors
Drugs that increase the functioning of the nervous system
Stimulates
Occurs over a period time with lack of sleep and take a long time to rebound
Sleep debt
The branch-like structures protruding off the neuronal cell body are where the neuron typically receives information from other cells
Dendrites
State of consciousness in which the person is especially susceptible to suggestion
Hypnosis
This sleep disorder may require the use of a device t open the nostrils/airway
Sleep apnea
Drugs that produce hallucinations or increased feelings of relaxation and intoxication
Hallucinogenics
This occurs often with excessive travel or travel across different time zones
Jet lag
These are the waves of the awake but relaxed brain.
Alpha Waves
This is the part of the brain that houses the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SNS)
Hypothalamus
In this sleep disorder you suddenly and without warning slip into REM sleep during the day
Narcolepsy
Condition occurring when a person's body becomes unable to function normally without a particular drug
Physical dependence
Dreams provide the sleeping brain with periodic stimulation and develop and preserve neural pathways, according to this theory
Physiological function theory