Nature of consciouness
What four words can be used to describe consciousness?
Personal, selective, continuous, changing
Detects, amplifies and records electrical activity of the brain.
What is a circadian rhythm?
A biological rhythm that involves changes in bodily functions or activities that occur as part of a cycle with a duration of approx. 24 hours.
What is the evolutionary theory also known as?
Circadian, adaptive or survival theory.
What are the two categories of sleep disturbances?
Parasomnias and dyssomnias
What does NWC stand for? Define NWC.
Normal Waking Consciousness.
Refers to the state of consciousness when we are awake and aware of our thoughts, feelings and sensations we are experiencing.
When might we use a test of speed and accuracy?
To measure the effects of different states of consciousness.
True or False.
A sleep-wake cycle is known as a circadian rhythm.
A sleep cycle is known as an ultradian rhythm.
True
What is a limitation of the evolutionary theory?
Doesn't actually explain our need for sleep.
Does not account for loss of awareness and alertness during sleep.
True or False?
Insomnia is a dyssomnia.
True
What is the difference between controlled and automatic processes?
Controlled processes are required for activities that demand high levels of concentration during NWC. Automatic processes require little awareness and mental effort, minimal attention and do not interfere with the performance of other activities.
Identify two subjective reporting measures of consciousness.
Sleep diaries, video monitoring
How is melatonin connected to sleep?
Melatonin is a hormone which is secreted into the bloodstream and causes us to feel sleepy when secreted in higher amounts.
Approx. 50%
Provide two examples of parasomnias.
Sleep walking, sleep apnoea, night terrors etc.
Provide an example of an activity(s) that require parallel processing and an example of an activity(s) that requires serial processing.
Parallel- stacking the dishwasher and talking on the phone
Serial- learning to drive
Identify four changes in psychological state due to levels of awareness. Explain one.
Content limitations, controlled and automatic processes, perceptual and cognitive distortions, emotional awareness, self-control, time orientation
According to the restoration theory, what is the difference between REM and NREM sleep?
REM sleep assists in the consolidation of new memories, brain development, maintenance of brain networks etc.
NREM sleep restores the body by replenishing energy stores, detoxifying muscles, repairs body tissue etc.
How do sleep patterns change across the lifespan?
REM decreases (50% to 20-25%)
Less time asleep in total (12-13 hours to approx. 6 hours) as well as the quality of sleep
NREM 3&4 also decreases in the elderly
What is sleep-onset insomnia and how can it be treated?
It is a dyssomnia referring to an inability to fall asleep and therefore get quality sleep.
It can be treated using CBT-I using stimulus control therapy and sleep hygiene education as the behavioural component.
How does being in a drug-induced ASC affect the body?
Drugs can influence specific neurotransmitters, receptors or by chemically affecting neuronal function in other ways.
They can either stimulate or depress the NS activity of the body.
Depressants would show slower EEG brain wave patterns such as alpha and theta, and reduced beta wave activity. Stimulants create excitatory patterns of brain wave activity (increased beta waves).
How does one night of sleep deprivation compare to legal blood alcohol concentrations?
Both can impact negatively on performance on concentration tasks.
Mood can also impact our conscious experience so can enhance or impair concentration or cognitive performance when either sleep deprived or under the influence of alcohol.
What is REM rebound?
Involves catching up on REM sleep immediately following a period of lost REM sleep by spending more time than usual in REM when next asleep
What does the sleep-wake cycle shift in adolescents refer to?
When there is a biological need for adolescents to fall asleep 1-2 hours later due to the delayed release of the hormone melatonin.
What is bright light therapy and what is it used for?
Involves timed exposure of the eyes to intense but safe amounts of light.
It can be used to treat circadian rhythm phase disorders (sleep-wake cycle shift in adolescents, jet lag, shift work) by advancing or delaying our biological clock and therefore the 'timing' of our sleep-wake cycle.